The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has charged the SwissPedDose association with the operation of the database, in order to further improve safety and use of medicinal products for children and newborns. SwissPedDose is thus continuing the harmonisation work that began as part of a pilot project. By 2025, dosage recommendations for 230 active substances used in paediatrics should be available in the database.
The legal basis for operating the database was created by Swiss Federal Parliament as part of the ordinary revision of the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA). Article 67a of the TPA has been in force since 1 January 2018:
Art. 67a Provision of information about the use of medicinal products in certain population groups
1 In order to improve safety in the use of medicinal products in paediatrics, the Federal Council may allow for the collection, harmonisation, evaluation and publication of data relating to the prescription, supply and use of medicinal products
2 The Confederation may arrange for a database to be established and operated by third parties for this purpose.[…]