OBJECTIVE：To o ptimize the t ype of nervous system medicines in National Essential Medicine List of China. METHODS：Various editions of WHO Essential Medicine Model List （WHO EML ）were consulted ，the collection of nervous system medicines was analyzed statistically ，and 2017 edition of WHO EML was compared with 2018 edition of National Essential Medicine List of China （NEML）. RESULTS ：During 1977-2017，the total number of nervous system medicines and disease coverage included in each edition of WHO EML had little change. Compared with 2017 edition of WHO EML ，2018 edition of NEML contained more medicines for nervous system disease （54 medicines vs. 30 medicines），and covered more disease types ， such as dementia （huperzine A ）and neuralgia （pregabalin），etc. However ，for the treatment of multiple sclerosis ，neuralgia， dementia and other diseases ，there were not many medicines to choose ，and some similar medicines （with the same or similar mechanism of action ）were collected repeatedly and some medicines had serious adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS ：It is suggested that National Essential Medicine List should be continuously optimized and perfected ，the varieties of essential medicines for the treatment of nervous system diseases should be increased appropriately ，for improving the treatment effect of such diseases and reducing the cost burden of patients.