WHO approves fixed-dose triple single-pill combination therapy for hypertension

Hyderabad: The World Health Organization (WHO) has added fixed-dose triple single-pill combination therapy for hypertension to its Model List of Essential Medicines.

The agency has recognised the treatment’s potential to improve global blood pressure control.

The move is seen as a major step towards reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading cause of death.

A Global Health Gap

Hypertension currently affects more than 1.4 billion people worldwide, yet only one in five can keep their blood pressure under control.

For most patients, a single drug is not enough to manage the condition. Clinical evidence shows that combining medicines from different classes, often at low doses, produces better results with fewer side effects.

The newly listed therapies bring three antihypertensive medicines together in a single pill. This simplifies the treatment routine, reduces pill burden, and increases the likelihood of patients taking their medicines consistently, a key challenge in hypertension care.

Why Triple Combinations Matter

The science behind the decision is clear: people with hypertension often need two or more medicines to reach their target blood pressure.

Triple single-pill therapy builds on this reality by packaging three low-dose medicines into one. This design not only improves adherence but also increases the proportion of patients who can achieve control, compared to dual or single therapy.

Dr Abdul Salam, Program Head, Cardiovascular, at The George Institute for Global Health India, emphasised the significance of the WHO decision: “Inclusion of medicines in the WHO Essential Medicines List highlights their importance and serves as a pathway to making them widely accessible and affordable. We hope that national medicines list in individual countries will adopt the inclusion of triple single-pill combinations of antihypertensive drugs to provide an effective option for healthcare professionals in managing hypertension.”

Accelerating Global Targets

The WHO has set a target of achieving 50% control of hypertension globally by 2040. Access to simplified and effective treatment options is considered crucial to reaching that goal.

Gautam Satheesh, Research Associate at The George Institute for Global Health, underlined the importance of moving beyond recognition to implementation. “This listing marks a critical step forward for global hypertension care, recognising the evidence and equipping health systems to deliver simplified, effective treatment where it’s needed the most. The challenge now is to translate this into real access for patients everywhere, through large-scale implementation programs and adoption by individual countries.”

What Comes Next

The inclusion of these medicines on the WHO list does not automatically guarantee availability. Countries must now update their national essential medicines lists, align procurement systems, and work with manufacturers to ensure the drugs are produced at affordable prices. Regulatory approvals and training of healthcare providers will also be essential for smooth adoption.

The George Institute for Global Health has acknowledged the collective efforts behind this milestone, extending gratitude to collaborators and partners working to improve cardiovascular health worldwide.

Looking Ahead

The addition of triple single-pill combination therapy to the WHO Essential Medicines List signals a turning point in the global fight against hypertension.

If translated into national policies and made widely accessible, it has the potential to improve treatment outcomes for millions, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of uncontrolled blood pressure is highest.