Children and parents need better information on medicines
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—Bonati and Pandolfini write of the need for a European formulary aimed at helping those who prescribe for children or who dispense for or give drugs to them.1 Better information about medicines for children is certainly needed.
Most medicines are given to younger children by parents and carers, whereas older children generally self administer. Since much of this is outside of current licensed indications, very little information is available to parents and children to help them make safe and informed choices about medicine taking. Drug companies are expressly prohibited from providing information for the public about unlicensed use of their products.
A new version of Medicines for Children or its equivalent is urgently needed, designed for children and parents, and written in clear, accessible lay language.2 Ideally this would be available through the internet and potentially via interactive television, as well as in paper form. Such an innovation would be a valuable resource for patients and for health professionals, and would contribute to the safer and more effective use of medicines by children.
Joanne M Shaw, director
Medicines Partnership, London SE1 7JN jshaw@medicines-partnership.org
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Bonati M, Pandolfini C. Children need international formulary to guarantee rational use of drugs. BMJ 2004;328: 227. (24 January.)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Medicines for children. London: British Medical Association, 1999.
Most medicines are given to younger children by parents and carers, whereas older children generally self administer. Since much of this is outside of current licensed indications, very little information is available to parents and children to help them make safe and informed choices about medicine taking. Drug companies are expressly prohibited from providing information for the public about unlicensed use of their products.
A new version of Medicines for Children or its equivalent is urgently needed, designed for children and parents, and written in clear, accessible lay language.2 Ideally this would be available through the internet and potentially via interactive television, as well as in paper form. Such an innovation would be a valuable resource for patients and for health professionals, and would contribute to the safer and more effective use of medicines by children.
Joanne M Shaw, director
Medicines Partnership, London SE1 7JN jshaw@medicines-partnership.org
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Bonati M, Pandolfini C. Children need international formulary to guarantee rational use of drugs. BMJ 2004;328: 227. (24 January.)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Medicines for children. London: British Medical Association, 1999.