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An International Asset Map of Clinicians, Educators, and Researchers Pursuing Better Medicine Use in Children:

S M MacLeod1,2, Mje Greff3,4, D C Knoppert5

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|August 25, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children worldwide often receive unvalidated treatments, particularly in low-income nations. A critical shortage of pediatric clinical pharmacology experts exists, with most concentrated in high-income countries, necessitating urgent training initiatives.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Global health equity
  • Clinical research workforce development

Background:

  • Children globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), frequently receive treatments lacking clinical pharmacology validation.
  • There is a significant gap in professionals trained in evaluating pediatric therapies, impacting treatment efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the global availability of professionals in pediatric clinical pharmacology and related fields.
  • To identify disparities in the distribution of expertise for pediatric drug evaluation and therapy support.

Main Methods:

  • An international survey of 497 professionals and clinician scientists was conducted between May 2015 and February 2016.
  • Data collection focused on expertise in pediatric clinical pharmacology, education, research, and treatment support.

Main Results:

  • A critical shortage of clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists trained in pediatric drug evaluation was identified.
  • 87% of qualified personnel are located in high-income countries, highlighting a severe resource imbalance.
  • LMICs face a particularly acute deficit in specialized expertise.

Conclusions:

  • Urgent investment in targeted training programs for pediatric clinical pharmacology is essential.
  • Addressing the geographical disparity in expertise is crucial, with a focus on Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
  • Strengthening the pediatric clinical pharmacology workforce in LMICs is vital for improving child health outcomes.

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