Glimpses of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Module Learning series 8th- Alshifa college of Pharmacy- 5th-7th November 2014.

Editorial- July sept 2014 issue

Editorial

Doctor is a doctor wherever they are trained. 

A Pharmacist? 

A question of concern and this question remained unanswered over a century in India and such type of concerns can be overcome largely by setting up ideal practice sites and cultivating real practice skills in every clinical pharmacist with proper mission, vision and strategic planning.

In 2014, there is a new paradigm shift for pharmacy practice where the preferences have been shifted from product focus to the patient focus and patient centered care there by giving pharmaceutical care a new dimension. A patient centered care is a professional obligation to take responsibility for and provide care targeted to, the individual patients need. The scope of practice changes have been moving at a fast pace and at this juncture, clinical pharmacist should be vibrant at his activities, provided he should be capable of identifying the potential problems, explore and prioritize potential strategies and design ,implement and evaluate a viable solution. 

Pharmaceutical care is still in its infancy in India, despite India being a hub of hospitals. Clinical pharmacist across India should set up an ideal practice sites in their respective territory and every clinical practice setting should have work force which is flexible, capable, demonstrable and adaptable to all kind of practice activities. We the faculty of the department of pharmacy practice are in process of carving out a perfect breed of young budding pharmacists to a fully trained professional clinical pharmacists who possess the combination of knowledge, skill, efficiency, and research application, with which one can really overcome such concerns .

Three days preceptor development program which was held at JSS hospital in Mysore turned out be a unique and rewarding experience to all who attended and the program overview/experiences has been covered in this issue of the newsletter.Mr Linu Mohan, Asst Professor, has become a pride for the dept. of pharmacy practice, as he got selected for the Pharma bridge program and had undergone one month extensive training on various aspects of clinical practice in different ideal practice conditions in Ohio, USA. Mr Linu has shared his training experiences at Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, and I am sure it will be an interesting read. 

Dr.Thad Franz,from USA has generously shared his knowledge and expertise on medication reconciliation programs and is included in the current issue of the newsletter. Dr. Thad Franz trains pharmacists involved in precepting students in the professional pharmacy curriculum. He also serves as a liaison between the School and local pharmacies, identifying and facilitating opportunities for mutual benefit. Prior to his academic appointment at Cedarville in 2012, Dr. Franz served as a pharmacist with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he developed programs in the ambulatory care setting focused on patient adherence, education, and disease state management. He also served as a preceptor for advanced pharmacy practice students and pharmacy residents. He has worked as a consultant pharmacist in clinical trials for the Ohio State University’s College of Medicine. I profusely thank Dr. Thad Franz for his time and immense contribution towards our newsletter. 

This issue also features an article written by Dr. Mohantha G.P, Prof, Annamalai University, titled Aspirin to Prevent Coronary Heart Diseases – Is Routine Use Justified? 

As always, the current issue of our newsletter will also include news from the department, achievements of our staff and students, experiences and overview of various activities and programs held and articles by our regular contributors; Mrs. Shinu, Levin Thomas and Linu Mohan.

Enjoy this issue and please feel free to offer any suggestions for the improvement of Shifaclinpharm @ dillu7@redifffmail.com

Keep Reading!

Dr Dilip.C

Editor in Chief

Tides in Indian Pharma

Pharmacy students banned from animal dissection

Pharmacy students across the country will now have to stop experiments on animals. As recently, the UGC has notified a ban on dissection of animals for academic purposes at the UG and PG levels on college campuses, the PCI has directed its institutions to impose a similar ban. The PCI in its recent gazette notification dated 28-August 2014, has declared “wherever animal experimentation are prescribed in the curriculum, the required knowledge and skill should be imparted by using computer assisted modules”.  

Specification of Pharm.D Program by UGC Act, 1956

The University Grants Commission vide Notification No. F.5-1/2013 (CPP-II) dt. March, 2014 published in the Gazette of India, Part III, Section 4, No. 27 dt. July 5- July 11, 2014 has specified the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree under the Pharm.D regulations, 2008 under section 22(3) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 at the serial number 107. 

Finally Flupenthixol+Melitracen combination banned!!

The central government has finally banned the use of the combinational drug of Flupenthixol (typical antipsychotic) and Melitracen (tricyclic antidepressant) for human use vide Gazette notification No.GSR498 (E) dated 11-07-2014, considering it’s risk for human beings and with more safer alternatives available. The combination was illegally being promoted for 2 unapproved indications- menopausal depression and depression in alcoholics and drug addicts. The use of the combination was banned in Denmark (country of origin), US, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Japan...to name a few. Drug and Cosmetic Rule 30-B bans the import and marketing of any drug for which the use is banned in the country of origin. Further as Melitracen was not individually earlier not approved in India, the combination had to undergo phase 1, 2 and 3, so as to establish its safety and efficacy. The reports of any such trials were not furnished

. More Drugs under Price Control

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has brought 108 more essential drugs under Drug Price Control Order, 2013 in addition to the 348 essential drugs already under price control. These newly introduced drugs belong to 8 therapeutic drugs but mainly for treating diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as glimepiride, gliclazide, sitagliptin, voglibose, simvastatin, telmisartan etc. Consequently the diabetic and cardiac drugs are expected to become cheaper by up to 35% in India. 

Mandatory 3 parameters in Clinical Trial Applications

The Union health ministry has made it mandatory for CRO’s, clinical trial sponsors, medical institutions and other state holders involved in the conduct of clinical trials to provide information on the following 3 aspects in their clinical trial applications with immediate effect.

1. Assessment of Risk verses Benefit to patients.

 2. Innovation vis-a vis  existing therapeutic option.

 3. Unmet medical needs in the country. 

By Levin Thomas

Asst Professor

Dept of Pharmacy Practice

Alshifa college  of Pharmacy