Use of unlicensed drugs in a Swiss Pediatric University Hospital and associated prescribing error rates - a retrospective observational study

CONCLUSIONS: Unlicensed drugs are frequently prescribed in this paediatric hospital setting in Switzerland. Around every tenth prescription is an unlicensed drug. Because unlicensed drugs showed a significantly higher rate of prescribing errors, licensed drugs are favourable in terms of medication safety and should be prescribed whenever possible. If no licensed drug is available, imported drugs should be favoured over formula drugs due to lower prescribing error rates. To increase medication safety in paediatrics in Switzerland, efforts are necessary to increase the number of suitable licensed drug formulations for paediatric patients, including developing new innovative drug formulations for children.PMID:38579321 | DOI:10.57187/s.3369
Source: Swiss Medical Weekly - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research