WHO intensifies efforts on child-appropriate medicines
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday launched a new campaign aimed to ensure children have better access to medicines appropriate for them. The campaign, named “Make Medicines Child Size”, targets a range of medicines including antibiotics, asthma and pain medication that need to be better tailored to children’s needs.
It calls for further research and development of combination pills for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, as well as appropriate child therapy for a number of neglected tropical diseases.
”The gap between the availability and the need for child-appropriate medicines touches wealthy as well as poor countries,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in a statement.
”As we strive for equitable access to scientific progress in health, children must be one of our top priorities,” she said.
According to the WHO, more than half of the children in industrialized countries are prescribed medicines dosed for adults and not authorized for use in children. In developing countries, the problem is compounded by lower access to medicines.
Approximately 6 million of children under five die of treatable conditions each year and could be saved if the medicines they need were readily available, safe, effective and affordable.
Pneumonia alone causes approximately 2 million deaths in children under five each year and HIV kills 330,000 children under15.
”These illnesses can be treated, but many children don’t stand a chance because the medicines are either not appropriate for their age, don’t reach them or are priced too high,” said Howard Zucker, WHO assistant director-general.
The WHO will also work with governments to promote changes in their legal and regulation requirements for children’s medicines.
