Widespread prescribing of unauthorised drugs

THE prescribing of unauthorised medicines to children is widespread in Ireland and across Europe, according to the findings of a new EU-wide study.

A total of 258 unauthorised medicinal products were identified here from a survey of information collected from paediatricians and hospital pharmacies.

The study by the European Medicines Agency also concluded that the prescribing of off-label medicines (medicines used outside their marketing authorisation) is equally problematic.