Top

Indian Journal of Pediatrics

Published in:

01-03-2021 | Public Health | Original Article

Availability of Pediatric Formulations in Public Health Care System in India: A Case Study

Authors: Vandana Roy, Shubha Singhal, Himanshu Tayal, A. P. Dubey

Published in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 3/2021

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the availability of pediatric formulations in Essential Medicines Lists and public health care facility in India.

Methods

Availability of pediatric formulations in the public health sector was evaluated by assessing inclusion of pediatric formulations in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), Delhi Essential Medicine List (DEML), Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and comparing it with the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines for children (WHO, EMLc). In addition, availability of 30 essential medicines in a public, tertiary care hospital was assessed over a period of 1 y.

Results

Many medicines present in WHO EMLc were not there in NLEM and DEML. The number of pediatric medicines formulations not available in pediatric doses as compared to WHO EMLc was 98,97 and 97 in NLEM, DEML and IAP respectively. Palliative care was the most neglected area in all the lists. In the public health care facility, only 53% of the tracer pediatric medicines were available.

Conclusions

There is less availability of pediatric formulations in the Indian NEML and state DEML. Availability of key tracer pediatric medicine formulations in public health facility is poor. A separate pediatric EML is required in the country to improve focus on availability of child-specific formulations.

Available only for authorised users

Batchelor HK, Marriott JF. Paediatric pharmacokinetics: key consideration. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2015;79:395–404.CrossRef

Yewale VN, Dharmapalan D. Promoting appropriate use of drugs in children. Int J Pediatr. 2012;2012:Article ID 906570.

Tripathi N, Kerketta F, Chatterjee P, Raman VR, John D, Jain K. Access and availability of essential medicines in Chhattisgarh: situation in public health facilities. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7:152–6.CrossRef

Child in India [Internet]. Childline India Foundation. Available at: https://childlineindia.org.in/contactus.htm. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

Pujari NM, Sachan AK, Kumar Y. Cross-sectional study on availability and affordability of some essential child-specific medicines in Uttar Pradesh. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2016;5:2047–51.CrossRef

Gitanjali B, Manikandan S. Availability of five essential medicines for children in public health facilities in India: a snapshot survey. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2011;2:95–9.CrossRef

Maiti R, Bhatia V, Padhy BM, Hota D. Essential medicines- an Indian perspective. Indian J Commun Med. 2015;40:223–32.CrossRef

WHO Model lists of Essential Medicines. [Internet]. WHO. Available at: https://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/en/. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

National List of Essential Medicine of India 2011. [Internet]. Available at: https://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s18693en/s18693en.pdf. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

10.

Essential Medicines List 2013, Directorate of Health Service, Government of NCT of Delhi. Available at: http://dshm.delhi.gov.in/pdf%5CQAC%5CSoPs%5CEssential%20Drug%20List%20Delhi%202013.pdf. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

11.

Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Essential Medical List for Children. Available at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19040en/s19040en.pdf. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

12.

Measuring Medicine Prices, Availability, Affordability and Price Components, 2^nd ed. WHO. Available at: https://www.who.int/medicines/areas/access/OMS_Medicine_prices.pdf. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

13.

You W, Henneberg M. Cancer incidence increasing globally: the role of relaxed natural selection. Evol Appl. 2018;11:140–52.CrossRef

14.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy 2012 (NPPP-2012). The Gazette of India. WHO; 2012. Available at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s20106en/s20106en.pdf. Accessed 12^th June 2019.

15.

Lajoinie A, Henin E, Kassai B, Terry D. Solid oral forms availablility in children:a cost saving investigations. BJCP. 2014;78:1080–9.PubMed

16.

Bhargava A, Kalantri SP. The crisis in access to essential medicines in India: key issues which call for action. Indian J Med Ethics. 2013;10:86.PubMed

17.

Roy V, Gupta U, Agarwal AK. Cost of medicines and their affordability in private pharmacies in Delhi (India). Indian J Med Res. 2012;136:827–35.PubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Availability of Pediatric Formulations in Public Health Care System in India: A Case Study
Authors: Vandana Roy
Shubha Singhal
Himanshu Tayal
A. P. Dubey
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer India
Keywords: Public Health
Care
Published in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0019-5456
Electronic ISSN: 0973-7693
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-020-03220-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Availability of Pediatric Formulations in Public Health Care System in India: A Case Study

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2021

Ostracizing Children from Research in COVID-19: Is it Ethical?

A Seizuring Child: Accidental Ingestion of an Ancient Remedy

Cardiac Affection in a Young Girl with Post Covid-19 Kawasaki Like Syndrome

Clinical Sequencing Solves a Diagnostic Dilemma by Identifying a Novel Pathogenic Variant in USB1 Gene Causing Poikiloderma with Neutropenia

Mystery of a Family with Recurrent Male Infant Deaths- Solved by Autopsy and Molecular Tests

Hemopericardium in an Infant