The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a new global guideline to help countries develop balanced national policies that ensure equitable access to controlled medicines while safeguarding public safety. The guideline was introduced at a high-level side event during the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly on 23 May 2025.

Key highlights

Addressing global inequity in access

• Over 5.5 million terminal cancer patients and millions of others in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack access to essential controlled medicines.

• In 2021, more than 80% of the world’s morphine supply went to high-income countries.

• 75% of people with epilepsy in LMICs remain untreated, highlighting massive global treatment gaps.

New policy framework for member states
The guideline offers a roadmap to improve access while maintaining safety, with recommendations such as:

• Accurate forecasting of national medicine needs

• Strengthening procurement and supply chains

• Banning unethical marketing practices

• Supporting local production where feasible

• Promoting opioid agonist therapy in clinically needed settings

• Robust training for healthcare providers and public awareness

Grounded in equity and patient rights

• The guideline encourages non-discrimination, patient-centred care, and community engagement in policy development.

• It stresses the importance of developing clinical protocols without commercial influence.

Expert and diplomatic backing

• Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines, said:

“This guideline is not just about regulation; it’s about restoring dignity to care.”

• Ambassador Christophe Payot of Belgium and Dr Julia Downing, Co-Chair of the WHO Guideline Group, called for urgent global collaboration.

• H.E. Ruth Dreifuss, former Swiss President, warned that failure to implement balanced access constitutes a preventable public health and human rights failure.

Next steps
The full document titled WHO guideline on balanced national controlled medicines policies to ensure medical access and safety will be published online in June 2025.WHO’s new guideline is a global call to action to close the access gap for controlled medicines. By promoting balance, transparency, and safety, the guideline aims to end avoidable suffering and establish equitable access to critical treatments across all countries, especially in underserved regions.