Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics imparts training to the medical cadets of 3rd phase of MBBS course. The main objective of the department is to teach medical cadets about detail knowledge of history, source, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics of the drug and its interactions etc. Medical cadets are also engaged to acquire therapeutic knowledge during placement in different wards of the hospital. One year Pharmacology course items are divided into two terms. Total allocation of teaching hours for the subjects is 200 hours, out of which 100 hours for theoretical lectures, 30 hours for tutorial classes, 50 hours for practical and demonstration classes and the rest 20 hours for clinical case report, assignment with presentation. Besides, students of 3rd phase of MBBS are allowed to remain present in different workshops/seminars related to drug. Visits to different well reputed pharmaceutical companies are arranged for their practical knowledge regarding medicine.

Departmental Objectives:

The objective is to provide a need based integrated “Basic Pharmacology for a safe and effective prescribing” course so that the students on graduation will be competent to:

• Describe the pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and adverse reactions of drugs in order to be able to prescribe safely and effectively.
• Describe the basic principles and concepts considered essential for rational (effective, safe, suitable and economic) prescribing and use of medicines in clinical practice.
• Understand the principles of rational prescribing and the basis of utilizing the principles of rational evaluation of therapeutic alternatives.
• Recognize, manage and report the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and drug interactions.
• Obtain informed consent by providing enough information about disease(s), treatment(s) and alternative options available, in order to allow the patients to make informed decision about their treatment.
• Identify and assess objectively the drug information sources.
• State the Essential Drug List and principles underlying the “Concept of Essential Drugs”, and apply them appropriately in community oriented health care delivery service.
• Recognize the implications of poly pharmacy and other means of irrational prescribing, identify influences favoring irrational prescribing and develop means to resist them.
• Evaluate the ethical and legal issues involved in drug prescribing, development, manufacture and marketing.
• Acquire methods of learning needed for evaluation of existing and new drugs and to follow trends and approaches in pharmacological research.
• Develop attitude for continuous self-learning and professional development throughout their practicing life. List of competencies to acquire: A) Knowledge and Understanding
• Basic pharmacodynamics (effects, mechanism), and clinical pharmacokinetics required for safe and effective prescribing.
• Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs): recognizing, management & reporting
• Basic principles & concepts essential for rational (effective, safe, suitable and economic) prescribing and use of drugs in clinical practice.
• Concept of essential drugs and selection of essential drug list for use in community oriented health care services.
• Drug information sources: access to unbiased drug compendia and use of standard treatment guidelines , formularies to support safe and effective prescribing
• Ethics of Prescribing: Informed patient consent about disease, treatment given and alternative options available.
• The ethical and legal issues involved in drug prescribing, development and marketing.

B) Skill –

• Taking drug history.
• Prescription writing: choosing safe & effective drugs and appropriate dosage formulations.
• Selecting appropriate drugs (P Drug) to support rational prescribing considering efficacy, safety, suaitability and cost.
• Recognizing, managing and reporting Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and drug interactions. · Obtaining accurate objective information to support safe and effective prescribing.
• Prescribing drugs for special groups: elderly, children, pregnancy, breast feeding mothers, renal &/or hepatic impairment or failure.
• Getting informed consent from patients
• Analyzing new evidence:
  • Reading, assessing and critically analyzing clinical trial results
  • Practicing evidence based medicine
  • Assessing the possible benefits and hazards of new therapy

C) Attitude –

• Continuous self-learning to keep their knowledge & skill up-to-date through continuous professional development.
• Communicating with patients regarding disease, the drug treatment and alternative options to obtain informed consent and respecting patients’ own views and wishes in relation to drug treatment.