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

The world's 1.89 billion children (age 0-14) too frequently receive treatments that have not been validated through clinical pharmacology research, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Initial findings from an international asset map of professionals and clinician scientists available to address the needs for education, research, and treatment support suggest a critical shortage of clinical pharmacologists, clinical pharmacists, and other professionals with advanced training in the evaluation of therapies for childhood conditions and illnesses. A total of 497 individuals responded to a survey conducted between May 2015 and February 2016. An alarming signal is apparent showing that, while the overall resource pool is unquestionably limited, 87% of relevant qualified personnel are located in high-income countries. The data suggest an urgent need for targeted training in pediatric clinical pharmacology, with particular focus on the needs in Africa, Latin America, and most of Asia.