Reported by Lo Chen from Taipei

The NHIA is planning to introduce two quality indexes in order to promote the use of paediatric dosage forms and to ensure adequate treatments for children.

According to Dai Xuei-Yung, a Section Chief of the NHIA, the two quality indexes would be the prescription of oral liquid in original packaging for outpatient children under 12 and the prescription of drugs in paediatric dosage forms.  The NHIA is now inviting comments from all stakeholders.  The NHIA will, based on the consensus, promote the healthcare providers where paediatric dosage forms are available. 

Professor Lin Hui-Ling of the Pharmacy Department of the NTU expressed that it is still quite common to give adult drugs to children by breaking tablets into smaller doses or grinding them into powders. This practice is unsafe as parents are not able to identify the drugs and the doses.  According to a survey conducted by the Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation (THRF), 62% of parents expressed their concerns about the dose of drugs given to their children which involve cutting or grinding up tablets.

Chu Chien-Guang, the spokesperson of the THRF, expressed that though the NHIA gives a payment price mark-up to paediatric dosage forms and makes paediatric dosage forms an index of excellence for hospital accreditation, there is no incentive for clinics to follow suit.  Therefore, some parents prefer taking their children to big hospitals for safer dosage forms.

Chu suggested that parents should visit the THRF’s website to check which hospitals or clinics provide drugs in paediatric dosage forms or call the health providers directly to enquire.  As the dose for children is determined based on their age, height and weight, parents should mention the data to doctors and proactively request drugs in paediatric dosage forms.

【2019-02-21/ United Evening News】