Ineffi­ciencies due to poor access to and irrational use of medicines to treat acute respiratory tract infections in children

Overview

Although  there  are  treatment  guidelines  to  inform  prescribers  on  cost-effective  use  of medicines,  a  number  of  factors  may  affect  their  use  particularly  in  low  and  middleincome  countries.  High  prevalence  of  self-medication  in  these  countries  also  contributes to  the  irrational,  inappropriate  and  cost-ineffective  (inefficient)  use  of  medicines. 

This report is part of a series, The World Health Report 2010 Background Papers, which were written to inform the process of developing the key messages of the World Health Report 2010: Health systems financing: The path to universal coverage.