[e-drug] UNICEF: Sources and prices of selected medicines for children

E-DRUG: Sources and prices of selected medicines for children
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UNICEF in collaboration with WHO is pleased to present 'Sources and Prices
of Selected Medicines for Children'. The publication provides up-to-date
information on the availability of products and sources, as well as
indicative prices of medicines in formulations suitable for children.

http://www.unicef.org/supply/index_47129.html

Formulations suitable for children (paediatric formulations) are often
not available in the market place, for many reasons, including insufficient
information on sources and prices. In May 2007 the World Health Assembly
endorsed the WHO Resolution on 'Better Medicines for Children' and
published the 'Model List of Essential Medicines for Children'. The global
campaign Make Medicines Child Size', launched at the same time by WHO is
raising awareness and accelerating action to improve the availability of
and access to safe and child-specific medicines.

This publication contributes to the effort to increase access to
appropriate medicines by identifying sources and prices for selected
products indicated in the treatment of diseases in children. The list of
products selected is based on the 'Model List of Essential Medicines for
Children', http://www.who.int/childmedicines/publications/EMLc%20(2).pdf
with the addition of therapeutic food and nutritional supplements. The work
will be updated in line with developments in the Model List.

It is hoped that all that have an interest in increasing access to
paediatric medicines will find the information useful in their work.
Millions of lives can be saved by ensuring that every child in need is
reached by proven and affordable high-impact health and nutrition
interventions.

For more information, please contact Annika Schwenk: aschwenk@unicef.org,
UNICEF Supply Division, HIV/AIDS and Health Centre.

Best Regards

Annika Schwenk MSc.(pharm)
HIV/AIDS Health Centre (HHC)
UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen.
Telephone: (+45) 35 27 32 98
Fax: (+45) 35 26 94 21
E-Mail: aschwenk@unicef.org

E-DRUG: UNICEF: Sources and prices of selected medicines for children (2)
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Thank you very much for the information on prices and selected medicines for children. This is helpful when developing country specific essential lists and also in procurement.

I realised that you get opportunity to meet with the supplier so you might be able to advocate for the type of packaging used that will facilitate monitoring adherence.

One of the methods used for monitoring adherence to medications, especially ARVs is to use pill count. When it comes to the paediatric population, this is difficult because the bottles used for packaging are usually so opaque that you can not see what is inside. This is good for ensuring stability of the product of course but i think there must be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Adherence to ARVs in children is grossly underestimated in children who can not swallow pills because to check the amount of syrup remaining depends on shaking the bottle unless the bottle is calibrated or one is really elaborate and so pours the amount into a measuring cylinder or something like that. This could be time consuming so people usually take the short cut of shaking the bottle.

It would really be helpful to have calibrated bottles (even if opaques, there could be a strip on the side of the bottle which is slightly tranparent and has calibration while for amber bottles are easy to see through and all that is required is to calibrate the bottle). This would really go a long way in assisting with adherence issues in children.

Thank you.

Joyce Kgatlwane - Pharmacist
jkgatlwane@yahoo.com
[Please remember to put full affiliation. Moderator]