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Improving Drug Treatment for Children

Are We Making an Impact?

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Abstract

At the beginning of 2009, we are on the threshold of mobilizing expertise in child health care and pediatric pharmacy and pharmacology in pursuit of worldwide major improvements in drug therapy for children. Momentum is built on progressive legislation on pediatric drug therapy from the US and Europe and on recent advances promoted by the WHO, including publication of an essential medicines list for children. Opportunities abound for research, educational initiatives, and practice improvements likely to bear early fruit in the form of better pharmacotherapy for children and youth. The most pressing challenge remaining is mobilization of a critical mass of caregivers, pharmacologists, pharmacists, and other child health professionals prepared to address their skills to this critically important task.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this paper. The author has no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this paper.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute, Room A2-146, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, V5Z 4H4, Canada

    Stuart M. MacLeod

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  1. Stuart M. MacLeod
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Correspondence to Stuart M. MacLeod.

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MacLeod, S.M. Improving Drug Treatment for Children. Pediatr-Drugs 11, 1–3 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2165/0148581-200911010-00001

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