The United Nations agency released the updated list of essential medicines for adults and children, adding new treatments for various types of cancer and diabetes with associated comorbidities, such as obesity, as well as cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, and blood-related diseases.

These lists, according to the WHO, include medicines for the priority health needs of populations and are adopted in more than 150 countries, serving as the basis for public sector procurement, drug supply, health insurance, and reimbursement models.

Among the medications added are drugs with the active ingredients semaglutide, dulaglutide, and liraglutide, which are used for type 2 diabetes but also for weight loss, which has led to high demand in several countries, including Portugal.

WHO experts concluded that these medications "can help people" with type 2 diabetes, especially those who also have heart or kidney disease, by improving blood sugar control, reducing the risk of complications, aiding weight loss, and even reducing the risk of premature death.

The organization highlighted that diabetes and obesity are two of the most pressing health challenges facing the world, considering that more than 800 million people were living with diabetes in 2022, half of whom were untreated, while one billion were affected by obesity.

In the case of cancer drugs, seven applications covering 25 drugs were evaluated, the WHO said, noting that its expert committee applies rigorous criteria to recommend only therapies that offer the greatest clinical benefit.

"As a result, few approved cancer medicines are included—only those proven to prolong life by at least four to six months," the organization said in a statement.

Launched in 1977, primarily to promote better access to medicines in developing countries, the updated lists include a total of 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children, reflecting the most urgent public health needs.

As a result of the WHO Expert Committee's review, 20 new medicines were added to the Essential Medicines List and 15 to the Essential Medicines List for Children, along with new indications for use for seven products already on the list.