[india-drug] Re: Drug Information Centres (12)

["Medicine Information Centre @ NIPER" <medinfo@niper.ac.in>]

Drug Information Centres (12)
********** 

In Reply to Prof. G P Mohanta's mail

Dear group,

It is good to see increased interest in establishment of DICs within the country. As per international register of DICs (http://www.shpa.org.au/docs/druginfo_int.html), there are 11 DICs operating within the country. I also understand that there are more DICs which might not be listed in international register.

While appreciating the initiative of Karnataka State Pharmacy Council in establishment of additional centres in more states, I wish to share with you the need for networking of existing centre. In doing so, we will serve three purposes at a time. Firstly, strengthening the resource base of each centre, since DIC is a resource intensive service. Secondly, through the network we can expect to have trained personnel (who will, most likely, man the additional centres proposed by KSPC DIC). Finally, the DICs will be able to demonstrate the potential of this service to a much larger section of health care professionals.

In this regard, I am pasting a part of press coverage which mentions the need for networking  way back in 2005. 

Express Pharma Pulse March 24, 2005 Page 27

The workshop was followed by an open discussion in which the participants resolved the followings............
  a.. In order to reduce the investment(s) on MICs, the existing centres in the country may consider formation of a network. One of the centres could act as a nodal centre which will house/provide access to the resources/databases procured from money pooled by various centres. NIPER being a centre of excellence should take initiative in this direction.
I am also sure that funding agencies to my knowledge, would consider strengthening the existing centres instead of starting new ones. 

Thanks,
Ms. Sukhpreet
Medicine Information Centre
NIPER, S A S NAGAR (PUNJAB), INDIA
Email: "Medicine Information Centre @ NIPER" <medinfo@niper.ac.in>