Enabling equitable access to essential medicines

Although safe and effective medication use is a cornerstone of optimal child healthcare, the use of medicines in the developing world remains suboptimal. Drug treatment must be improved through strict regulation and monitoring of pricing and drug quality. Better staff training is needed to overcome system limitations of distribution and storage, improve prescribing and dispensing, and to enhance detection and reporting of substandard and falsified medications. Numerous tools tailored for developing settings are now readily available. Emerging technologies such as mobile phones and other smart devices offer scope to overcome some of the challenges faced in resource-limited settings but their success will be largely contingent on trained health personnel, an engaged public, reliable infrastructure, and affordable communications. Actions at both a local and international level are required to realise the goal of rational prescribing and provision of essential medicines in all healthcare settings.