Extemporaneous (magistral) preparation of oral medicines for children in European hospitals.
The lack of availability of licensed paediatric medicines forces pharmacists to compound drugs into a form that children can tolerate. There is a lack of information to support much of this practice and standards tend to vary. Suitable licensed alternatives are often available in other countries but importing restrictions complicate obtaining them.


CONCLUSIONS
Regulatory action is needed to simplify licensing and importation processes to facilitate universal access to suitable paediatric medicines.
Conroy
S
S
Academic Division of Child Health (University of Nottingham), Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derby, UK. Sharon.Conroy@nottingham.ac.uk
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004304:Dosage Forms / Q000592:standards; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000592:standards*; D005060:Europe; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution*
D004304:Dosage Forms; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations