Earlier this year, an expert panel of the World Health Organization updated the Essential Medicines List, a collection of the most effective medicines used to treat the most prevalent health conditions. To save lives, extend life expectancies and raise billions out of poverty, these essential medicines need to be made available.

How well is the world doing in that quest? What about here in the U.S., and where does the principal of health access figure in the health reform push in Washington?

To help us answer those questions are:

• Suzanne Hill, Director of the Essential Medicines and Health Products Department at the World Health Organization in Geneva

• Merith Basey, North American Executive Director of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines

• Peter Maybarduk, Director of the Access to Medicines Project at Public Citizen

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Recorded June 22, 2017.

Hosted by Luke Vargas.