British National Formulary
The BNF for Children is a joint publication of the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), and the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG). The first edition was published in September 2005 and is available in print and digital versions. BNFC is under continuous revision and a new edition is produced each year.
The aim of BNFC is to provide a practical, relevant and authoritative information source for all health professionals involved in the drug therapy of children, building on the strengths and success of "Medicines for Children" (RCPCH Publications Ltd) using the editorial expertise of the BNF. BNFC provides information on the use of drugs in neonates, infants, children and adolescents up to 18 years of age.
The often limited clinical trial data available for children makes the role of the BNFC advisers network vital in enabling statements of best practice to be made even when the evidence remains imperfect. The BNFC aims to consult with as wide a range of health professionals as possible in order to achieve this.
The Paediatric Formulary Committee is responsible for the content of the BNFC. Doctors and pharmacists on the Committee (nominated by the British Medical Association, the Department of Health and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the RCPCH and NPPG) decide on matters of policy and review amendments to BNFC in the light of new evidence and expert advice. The Committee also contains representatives from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
The Committee meets quarterly and each member also reviews proofs of all BNFC chapters before publication.
Visit the BNF for Children website at http://bnfc.org.
