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Dissemination of information on new drugs must: expert

Special Correspondent

JIPMER director inaugurates Drug Information Centre in the institute

— Photo: T .Singaravelou

INAUGURATED: JIPMER Director K.S.V.K. Subba Rao checks out details of various drugs at Drug Information Centre, which was inaugurated at the institute on Tuesday.

Puducherry: Director of Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Education and Research K. S. V. K. Subba Rao has said that the attitude of purchasing drugs at medical shops without prescription from professionals should be discouraged. Inaugurating a Drug Information Centre (DIC) at the Department of Pharmacology in the institute here on Tuesday, Dr. Subba Rao said that the Central Government had initiated steps to open such information cells to collate details of drugs causing side effects. There would also be information on the various aspects of new drugs hitting the market.

The JIPMER was one of the centres to have the DIC with areas of operation extending to several adjoining States. The Director said that it was indeed a paradox that patients, who should take regularly certain drugs, were shunning them, and there were instances of patients, who never needed any drug, were insisting on prescriptions and taking them. He said that patients turning up at the outpatient block in the JIPMER would not feel content unless they were given drugs and medicines.

Dr. Rao, who also inaugurated a three-day national pharmacovigilance, said that the Drug Information Centre would be in touch with all departments in the institute and collect data of any adverse effects in any of the drugs. This would be in turn passed on to the Central health authorities to keep vigil on them. Each ward in the hospital would have a box to collect reports on adverse effect of medicines, which would be disseminated appropriately.

He also felt anguished over the profit motive behind the marketing of new drugs. Presenting a keynote address, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services Dilip Kumar Baliga said that there should be sustained information on drugs, when complaints of adverse effects were known. He said that the media should play a role in this regard.

He maintained that there was nothing like “safe drugs” and it all depended how judiciously they were used. The DIC should be apprised of instances of medicines’ adverse effects so that follow up action could be taken.

People should take medicines only on the basis of prescription by qualified professionals. Dr. Baliga stressed that research activities should be encouraged by pharmaceutical companies.

He gave away prizes and cash awards to those, who were proficient in various competitions conducted by the department. C. Adhithan Head of the Department of Pharmacology welcomed. Professor D.G. Shewade proposed a vote of thanks.

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