The impact of medication shortages on paediatric care: A retrospective impact analysis.

Authors

Maaike Johanna Rutten-van Kranenburg, Laurens Christiaan van Rijn, Elisabeth Johanna Ruijgrok, Sinno Henricus Paulus Simons, Brigitta Carolina Maria Witjes, Jan-Dietert Christoffer Brugma, Robert Bernard Flint

Published in

British journal of clinical pharmacology. Pages e70730. Aug 12, 2026. Epub Aug 12, 2026.

Abstract

Medication shortages are a growing global concern, with potentially greater consequences in paediatric patients because of the limited availability of safe, evidence-based and appropriately formulated medication. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of medication shortages on paediatric patients by assessing the suitability and safety of alternative treatment options.
A semi-quantitative assessment was conducted in a tertiary care paediatric hospital in the Netherlands of medication shortages occurring between January 2022 and June 2023. Alternative treatments were evaluated using a scoring methodology based on clinical efficacy, safety profile, medication safety aspects, disease severity, patient susceptibility, number of patients and cost implications. Each component was assigned an impact score ranging from 1 (low) to 3 (high). The overall impact score for each medication shortage was calculated by multiplying individual component scores.
Thirty-two medication shortages were analysed, with 15 classified as high impact and 7 as moderate impact. Anti-infective and central nervous system medication were most frequently affected. Patient susceptibility and the number of patients had the greatest influence on the total impact score of a shortage. Identified challenges included variations in dosing regimens, differing dosage forms, the presence of undesirable excipients and limited evidence for use in paediatric patients.
Medication shortages can significantly affect paediatric patients and healthcare professionals, potentially impeding the delivery of optimal care. This systematic impact assessment emphasizes the need for further attention to paediatric-specific safety and efficacy considerations in policy development and strategies to mitigate the effects of medication shortages.

PMID:
42581829
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Aug 2026.

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