The Department of Health Products Policies and Standards is housed in WHO’s Division of Access to Medicines and Health Products.  Our team supports Member States to improve access to safe, effective, quality health products, critical for the achievement of Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage goals. Our team provides authoritative guidance and standards on quality, safety and efficacy of health products and supports countries to formulate evidence-based policies and ensure good practice throughout the value chain. Our department is organized along the following teams and areas:

International Nonproprietary Names Programme and Classification of Medical Products

Access to assistive technology and medical devices: Assistive technology | In vitro diagnostics | Medical devices

Selection, IP and affordability: Selection of essential medicines | Trilateral cooperation on intellectual property and public health | Medicines Affordability and Pricing

Technical standards and specifications: Norms and standards for biologicals | Norms and standards for pharmaceuticals | Controlled substances | Blood products | Transplantation