Availability of sugar-free medicine for children: Are we denying their needs?
- Author:
Muhammad Ilyas Ahmad Shuhairi
1
Author Information
1. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11800 Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
- Collective Name:Hadzliana Zainal; Khoirulzariah Ismail
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cariogenic;
paediatric patients;
product Information;
sucrose;
sugar-free medicine.
- From:Archives of Orofacial Sciences
2018;13(2):63-69
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study aimed to review the availability of sugar-free medicine available in the market using the
online Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) Malaysia 2016. Data collection was obtained from product
information (PI) for prescription medications contained in the MIMS Malaysia 2016. Concise information for each
product was collected based on therapeutic class groupings. The therapeutic class obtained from PI was
assigned to one of the 11 major therapeutic classes. PI that stated its use in paediatrics was further reviewed for
the availability of sugar free ingredient. Each product was then allocated into the poison groups: Group B, Group
C and Non-Scheduled Poison. A total of 282 PI items from 336 companies in MIMS Malaysia 2016 that satisfied
our eligibility criteria were reviewed. Of the 282 PI items reviewed, most of the products, 169 (59.9%) were sugarbased product, while 87 (30.9%) of them belong to sugar free products. Our study found that most of the
medicines reviewed in the MIMS Malaysia 2016 were under Group C (134 of total 282). There is still a high
number of sugar-containing medicines despite the promotion of sugar-free medication. Therefore, consumers
need to be educated on the use of sugar-free medicines in children to increase the demand and availability in the
market.
- Full text:1.2018my0156.pdf
