Improving Access And Rational Use Of Paediatric Medicines (Paper Presentation)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

• Globally early nine million children under five years of age die every year, with pneumonia, diarrhea, and
  neonatal causes being the major killers [1]


• Many of these conditions could be treated with safe, effective medicines.


• On he other hand, irrational use of the available drugs has led to adverse drug reactions and drug resistance
  to the usual pathogens and infections by unusual organisms


• Promotion of appropriate and safe drugs in children is the need of the hour globally.


• WHO states that he ideal children medicine is one that suits the age, physiological condition, and body weight of
  the child taking them and is available in a flexible solid oral dosage form that can be taken whole, dissolved in a
  variety of liquids, or sprinkled on foods, making it easie for children to take [2]


• Pediatric population by itself is a spectrum of different physiologies with significant variation in
  harmacodynamics


• 50 0% of drugs used in children today have never been actually studied in this population, and the results of drug
  studies done in adults are often extrapolated for use in children.


• Many medicines in pediatric population are off label or unlicensed [3