RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Essential medicines for children
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP S38
OP S42
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2013-305705
VO 100
IS Suppl 1
A1 Kalle Hoppu
A1 Shalini Sri Ranganathan
YR 2015
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/100/Suppl_1/S38.abstract
AB Millions of children die every year before they reach the age of 5 years, of conditions largely treatable with existing medicines. The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines was launched in 1977 to make the most necessary drugs available to populations whose basic health needs could not be met by the existing supply system. During the first 30 years of the Model List of Essential Medicines, children's needs were not systematically considered. After adoption of the ‘Better medicines for children’ resolution by the World Health Assembly, things changed. The first WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children was drawn up by a Paediatric Expert Subcommittee and adopted in October 2007. The most recent, 4th Model List of Essential Medicines for Children was adopted in 2013. Data from country surveys show that access to essential medicines for children is still generally poor; much more work is needed.