Supply problems of unlicensed and off-label medicines after discharge
- Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research, The School of Pharmacy, Institute of Child Health, University of London and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- Correspondence to:
Prof. I C K Wong
Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London WC1N 1AX, UK; ian.wong{at}pharmacy.ac.uk
- Accepted 2 April 2006
- Published Online First 22 May 2006
Abstract
A total of 709 unlicensed and off-label medicines were prescribed for 338 patients discharged from a paediatric hospital between 1 November 2003 and 31 January 2004. Thirty three per cent of patients had difficulty obtaining these medications in primary care which caused treatment disruption. The main problems were: (1) community pharmacies being unable to supply; and (2) GPs’ refusal to prescribe.
Footnotes
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Published Online First 22 May 2006
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Competing interests: none declared
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Funding: The School of Pharmacy, University of London
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Present address of V W Yeung: Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), London, UK. The views expressed in this article do not represent the views of the MHRA.
