A Message of Triumph and Gratitude: WHO Inclusion of Sunscreen as an Essential Medicine

Official Statement from the Global Albinism Alliance
to the Albinism Community

05/09/2025

Dear Members of the Albinism Community,

Today, the Global Albinism Alliance (GAA), celebrates a historic milestone with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) approval of broad-spectrum sunscreen on the 24th edition of the Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and 10th edition of the Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), effective as of 3:00 p.m. CEST today. 

This landmark decision, achieved through our global campaign launched in November 2024 with partners including the United Nations Independent Expert on Albinism, Standing Voice, Beyond Suncare, the Pierre Fabre Foundation, the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), and the Africa Albinism Network, marks the GAA’s first major victory since our founding on October 11, 2021. 

Above all, this triumph is a testament to the incredible strength, resilience, and unity of our global Albinism Community. Thank you from the depths of our hearts for your unwavering support and collective action that made this possible. 

We also extend a special, heartfelt thanks to my dear friend, the late Mike McGowan, who passed away in November 2024 and was instrumental in driving the application process forward. His dedication and vision live on in this achievement.

For Persons with Albinism (PWAs), who face a 1,000-fold higher risk of UV-induced skin cancer due to melanin deficiency, this inclusion transforms sunscreen from a luxury into a life-saving necessity. It paves the way for improved affordability, streamlined distribution, and integration into national healthcare systems, especially in high-UV, low-resource regions. 

This victory, born from the power of our alliance and Mike’s tireless efforts, equips you with a powerful tool to demand access to sun protection, reducing the burden of preventable skin cancer. 

Guidance for PWAs and Albinism Organizations Advocacy Empowerment: 
Use this WHO endorsement to engage national health ministries, advocating for sunscreen’s inclusion in national essential medicines lists. Highlight its role in preventing non-melanoma skin cancer, a leading cause of mortality for PWAs in regions like sub-Saharan Africa.

Partnership Opportunities:
Collaborate with governments and donors to secure funding and bulk procurement. The EML/EMLc status strengthens proposals for subsidies and public health programs.

Community Action:
Educate PWAs on sun protection (sunscreen, UV-protective clothing, hats) and share resources via local organizations.

Global Engagement:
The 1st World Forum on Skin Cancer Prevention and Management in Persons with Albinism, October 27-28, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, co-organized with ILDS and Standing Voice. This forum will develop a prioritized action plan to enhance prevention and management, aligning with the ILDS World Skin Summit.

A Call to Action:
This victory is a clarion call to end the preventable skin cancer crisis, and it stands as a shining example of what we can achieve together. 

For albinism organizations, it unlocks opportunities to build capacity, secure resources, and push for recognizing skin cancer in PWAs as a WHO Neglected Tropical Disease. 

Governments and philanthropies must invest in scalable programs, while PWAs inspire us with their resilience, sunscreen offers freedom to live without fear. 

Our strength as an alliance has brought us this far, and we invite you to continue this movement for health equity. The GAA is committed to supporting you with strategies, education, and global standards for monitoring skin cancer burdens. 

Together, let’s turn this milestone into a lasting legacy. 

With heartfelt gratitude and determination,

ANTOINE GLIKSOHN
Executive Director, Global Albinism Alliance