The World Health Organization (WHO) has added methadone and buprenorphine—the two most common and effective drugs used in the treatment of opiate dependence—to its Model List of Essential Medicines. The Model List is reviewed by an expert committee and approved by WHO to reflect those medications "that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population ... with due regard to the public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness."  Methadone and buprenorphine are included on the "Complementary" Model List, reserved for medicines requiring specialized diagnostics, training, and/or medical care.

Methadone has been used to treat heroin and other opiate dependence for decades. The more recently developed buprenorphine has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of HIV infection by reducing drug use and improving the health and quality of life of opiate-dependent people. The drugs' inclusion on the Model List is an important step toward increasing global access to effective drug treatment and HIV prevention tools.

The updated Model List and more information on the Essential Medicines program may be found on the WHO site at http://www.who.int/medicines/.