Structural inertia in pharmaceutical design perpetuates outdated liquid medicine use for children
Original framing: “Kids can take tablets, so why are we still giving liquid medicines?” — The Conversation - Global
Parents and caregivers, especially those in low-income communities, face significant challenges in administering liquid medicines. Their voices are often excluded from pharmaceutical development processes, which are dominated by corporate interests.
The continued use of liquid medicines for children is not a natural or inevitable outcome but a systemic failure rooted in pharmaceutical industry priorities, regulatory inertia, and the exclusion of marginalized voices.
Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems offer valuable insights into child-friendly medicinal delivery that are often ignored in Western pharmaceutical models. By integrating these perspectives, incentivizing innovation, and reforming regulatory standards, we can create a more equitable and effective system for pediatric healthcare. This shift would not only improve treatment outcomes but also address the broader structural issues that perpetuate outdated medical practices.