Commentary: The pros and cons of essential medicines for rich countries.

Comments on an article in this issue which suggests that the way in which developing countries choose essential drugs for their populations might be an idea useful to developed nations. The rising costs of drugs in the UK and the USA; How cost containment is not the only goal of the essential drugs concept; Example of medication options in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the USA; Tradeoffs of using an essential drug list; Concern that if rich countries adopted the policy it would cut into research and development of new drugs; Other reasons the authors do not believe that the essential drugs concept can be applied to wealthy nations.