25th WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines

IACAPAP, in partnership with the World Federation of ADHD, asked a group of experts without any conflict of interest to prepare a new appeal to include methylphenidate in the WHO Essential Medicines List. The group of CAMH professionals was leaded by Profs. Brooke Molina and Philip Shaw. The WHO Essential Medicines List guides which medications several countries, and specially LMICs, make available for their populations. Millions of children and adolescents with ADHD worldwide do not have access to generic methylphenidate because it is not considered an essential medicine by WHO. In the past, two groups of experts tried without success. This time, the scenario is different, and methylphenidate is part of the WHO mhGAP.  The application was submitted last November.