Improving medicines for children in Canada. Findings of the expert panel on therapeutic products for infants, children and youth

With children being largely orphaned from the benefits of drugs, and being managed mostly by medications unapproved by Health Canada, a landmark document was published in September 2014 by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) to serve as a blueprint to change this grim reality. The main findings of the panel included: 1. Children take medications, many of which have not been proven safe and effective for their use. 2. Children respond to medications differently from adults; thus, medicines must be studied in children and formulated for children. 3. Studying medicines in children is always possible and in their best interests. 4. In the United States and the European Union, pediatric medicines research is encouraged, required and monitored in ways that offer lessons for Canada. 5. Pediatric medicines research is a Canadian strength, but it requires reinforcement, sustained capacity and infrastructure to realize its full potential.