WHO Prequalification: What It Means for Safe, Affordable Medicines

When you hear WHO Prequalification, a global system run by the World Health Organization to verify that medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics meet strict quality, safety, and efficacy standards. Also known as WHO PQ, it’s the gold standard that tells governments and health programs they can trust a drug—even if it’s made in a factory halfway across the world. This isn’t just paperwork. It’s what lets low-income countries buy life-saving HIV meds, malaria treatments, or vaccines at prices they can afford, without risking fake or weak products.

Behind every generic medicine, a lower-cost version of a brand-name drug that must prove it works the same way. Also known as generic drug, it that gets approved for global use, there’s a long road of testing. The WHO doesn’t just check the label. They inspect the factory, review the manufacturing process, and test samples in independent labs. If a pill passes, it’s added to the WHO Prequalification List—used by UN agencies, aid groups, and national health systems to make bulk purchases. That’s how a child in rural Kenya gets the same antiretroviral as someone in New York, but at a fraction of the cost.

But it’s not just about price. drug safety, the assurance that a medicine won’t harm patients when used as directed, even over long periods. Also known as medication safety, it is the core reason WHO Prequalification exists. Think of all the posts here on RxStore-365 about cyclosporine monitoring, Beers Criteria for seniors, or warfarin and vitamin K. Those are all about avoiding bad outcomes from meds. WHO Prequalification makes sure the medicine you’re taking—even if it’s cheap—doesn’t have hidden risks like incorrect dosing, toxic fillers, or poor absorption. Without it, you’re gambling with your health.

And it’s not just pills. The same system applies to vaccines, diagnostic tests, and even medical devices. When a country’s health ministry chooses a malaria rapid test kit, they look for the WHO PQ mark. Same with insulin pens, syringes, or even IV fluids. It’s the invisible shield that keeps global health programs from being flooded with substandard gear.

What you’ll find in the posts below is how this system touches real lives. From how patent battles delay access to generic versions of PAH drugs, to why switching from brand to generic can be risky if the product isn’t properly qualified, to how older adults are especially vulnerable when meds don’t meet quality standards. These aren’t abstract policies. They’re the reason some people live—and others don’t.