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. Conclusion : Regulatory action is needed to simplify licensing and importation processes to facilitate universal access to suitable paediatric medicines.