[india-drug] Re: Teaching Pharmacology and Therapeutics (10)

["HINDU PHARMACY" <pharmhin@sancharnet.in>]

Teaching Pharmacology and Therapeutics (10)
*********** 

Actually, there is not much problem about brand prescribing. First, 
the students at medical school need to be taught how to select 
"P-Drugs", especially based on Essential Drugs List. They also need 
to be taught about RDU, irrational drugs, etc. The respective 
college/professors need to be responsible to ensure that this is 
treated as a very important topic. (MCI also needs to think over 
this, and implement it). Once that is ingrained in the mind, rest all 
is "humanity". If you care for the patient more than the gifts, you 
are bound to prescribe sensibly. If one is sensible, he can then walk 
down to a pharmacy, and get the information he wants on the costs of 
different brands of different companies, and make sensible decisions. 
If the professors can induce that little sense in the students, that 
will be good.

The students also need to know the different sources about reliable, 
unbiased information on drugs, so that they are not misled by 
information provided by MRs. Of course, one needs to be very firm to 
stay away from temptations. I am quite glad I am not in the hot seat !

Raj Vaidya

Raj Vaidya, M.Pharm,
Vice President & Chairman,
Indian Pharmaceutical Association - Community Pharmacy Division,
&
Community Pharmacist,
Hindu Pharmacy,
Panaji - Goa - India
Tel : 91-832-2223176, 2432903
Email : pharmhin@sancharnet.in