Training Clinicians in Developing Countries on Rational Use of Medications in Children and Pregnant Women

Abstract

In the last three chapters, the coeditors present some concluding comments on the challenge of optimizing treatment for the nearly 1.7 billion children residing in low- and middle-income countries. Dr Anders Rane reports on the practical obstacles to achieving comprehensive improvement in delivery of safe and effective drug treatments for African children. Dr Gideon Koren highlights the critical need for more highly qualified personnel trained to support research and knowledge transfer essential to the achievement of rational medicines use in pediatrics and obstetrics in poorly resourced settings. Finally, Dr Sue Hill focuses on steps that will advance our pursuit of a better therapeutic future for children. She argues that we must avoid the risk of placing medicines for children in a special “silo”….with the risk of creating an isolated poorly integrated program. We should endeavor to keep an appropriate balance between the special and the routine and to promote the development of health systems that deliver for the “child” as part of patient-centered care. Achieving that balance will deliver on medicines for children and will achieve universally better health outcomes.