World Health Organization launches campaign to tailor children's medicines

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6, 2007, the World Health Organization announced a new research and development agenda that strengthens efforts to ensure better access to appropriate medicines forchildrenThe agenda
, launched in London with acampaign called Tailored Children's Medicines, targets a range of drugs that need to better adapt to children's needs, including antibiotics
,asthma and painkillersThe agenda calls for further research and development of joint pillfor HIV
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AIDS,tuberculosis and malaria,and appropriate child therapies for some neglected tropical diseases " in both rich and poor countries, there is a supply-demand gap in for children-friendly medicines, , says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General "As we strive to make equitable access to scientific progress in health
children must be one of our top priorities." WHO has begun efforts to promote greater attention to drug research in children The agency is building an Internet portal on clinical trials in children, and will publish a website containing relevant information early next year The first international list of essential drugs for children
WHO today released the first international list of essential medicines for children The list contains 2
06 drugs that are considered safe for children and can cope with of diseases "But there is still a lot of work to be done Some priority drugs are not available for children or are not available when needed," says Dr Hans Hogerzeil, Director of the Department of Drug Policy and Standards at WHO In industrialized societies, adult doses of drugs are not permitted for children for more than half of children In developing countries, the problem is exacerbated by the difficulty of obtaining medicines Every year, about 10 million children live beyond the age of five Nearly 6 million of them have died from treatable diseases , and their lives can be saved if the drugs they need are readily available, safe, effective and affordable Pneumonia alone kills about 2.
million children under the age of 5 each year, while HIV kills 330,000 children under the age of 15 "These diseases can be treated, but many children have no hope because drugs are either not suitable for their age, cannot be delivered to them or the price is too high - up to three times the price of adult drugs," says Dr Howard Zucker, WHO Assistant Director-General WHO will also work with governments to promote changes in their laws and regulations on children's medicines