Setting up of Drug Information Center in select states in India - A KSPC/WHO India country office Initiative

Introduction

A project to set up five Drug Information Centers (DICs) in selected states of India was funded by World Health Organization (WHO) India Country Office and was initiated by Drug Information Center of Karnataka State Pharmacy Council, Bangalore in recognition of our expertise, credibility, and experience in this field. The starting of these centers was with the intension of disseminating authentic unbiased drug information to medical & paramedical professionals and patients/consumers.

As a part of project, the center had organized a five day Drug Information training program to train the participants involved in this study between
11th – 15th December 2006.

The training was co-ordinated by P.K.Lakshmi, Director Drug Information Center, KSPC, who is also chief investigator of the project and in-house trainer. The practical hands on training and quality control aspects of drug information were dealt in detail by Mr. Graeme M Vernon, Senior Drug Information Practitioner, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia who had exclusively come for this training program. Two participants from each state participated in the training. These centres started functioning from last week of January 2007.

Objectives of the project

  1. To establish an independent / hospital attached drug information center in selected states.
  2. To provide authenticate, unbiased drug information to healthcare professionals through these centers.
  3. To provide tailor-made counseling and drug information to patients / consumers.
  4. To monitor and document adverse drug reactions within the hospital and the community.
  5. To document the process of setting up drug information centre

Methodology