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 favouring 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.

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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

C) Attitude –

·         Continuous self learning to keep their knowledge & skill uptodate 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.