AUTHOR=Herrera-Ramirez Israel , Orozco-Nuñez Emanuel , Guerra Germán , Dreser-Mansilla Anahi , Molina-Salazar Raul Enrique 
  
TITLE=Access to Essential Medicines in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1608754
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1608754
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesTo conduct a systematic review to analyze the barriers and facilitators related to accessing essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe searched PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Web of Science for studies published between 2002 and 2025. Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed, written in English or Spanish, and reported data on barriers or facilitators across three dimensions: availability, affordability, and adequate use.ResultsFrom 1010 identified records, 36 studies were included. Most were quantitative (n = 26), followed by qualitative (n = 8) and mixed-methods (n = 2) designs. Barriers (n = 34 studies) were reported more frequently than facilitators (n = 25), particularly for availability and affordability. Key barriers included public sector stock-outs and high prices in the private sector. A key facilitator was the presence of a national essential medicines list.ConclusionOur analysis compiles evidence on barriers and facilitators affecting access to essential medicines in LMICs. Policies favoring generic drug procurement and public–private sector disparities highlight the complexity of ensuring equitable access.