Doctors from Europe have written a letter to their country’s health ministers calling for action against the shortage of children’s medicines. A “quick, reliable and permanent solution” is “urgently needed,” the letter said.
There is a lack of fever and pain medication that could be administered child-friendly. The antibiotic penicillin does not currently exist either, says German doctor Thomas Fischbach, who co-signed the letter. This is from April 27 and is aimed at the health ministers in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland and South Tyrol (Italy).
“The health of our children and young people is at risk across Europe due to the lack of medicines. Due to the bottlenecks of recent months, treatments are possible that are not suitable for children and are also not based on therapy guidelines,” the letter says. Antibiotics are prescribed, for example, for pneumonia, urinary tract infections or scarlet fever. If the right preparation is not available, another antibiotic can be used, which according to the German professional association is less effective and increases the risk of antibiotic resistance (bacteria become insensitive to antibiotics, note).
Previously unimaginable
Just a few years ago, this scenario was “not even remotely conceivable”. In Austria, for example, antibiotic juices are scarce. In March, the Pharmacy Chamber even called for the purchase of raw materials abroad, so that pharmacies can produce the medicines themselves. However, the Ministry of Health rejected this proposal.
Source: Krone
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