PHD Chamber in association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemical & Fertilizers organized a Conference on Pharmacology: R&D for Minimizing ADRs and Role of Pharmacists’ 23rd September 2015, PHD House, New Delhi
The objective of the Conference was to promote the R&D activities and Clinical Pharmacist Practices which will help in encountering medication errors and drug related problems for better Patient Safety and sensitize the healthcare industry about the initiatives taken by the government. It will also identify grey areas which can be focused on for bringing international best practices.
The Conference was presided over by Dr. V. K Subburaj,Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and other Panellists present were Dr. G.N.Singh, Drug Controller General of India, CDSCO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as session Chairman, Dr. K. K. Kalra, C.E.O., NABH,Smt. Archna Mudgal, Registrar-cum-Secretary, Pharmacy Council of India, Dr. Farhan Jalees Ahmad, Head Of The Department Pharmaceutics, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Mr. Nishant V. Berlia, Chairman, Health Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr.Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce.
The Conference was well attended by 120 delegates including Pharmaceutical Industry members, Doctors, Pharmacists, Consultants, Academicians and Students
Secretary Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Dr. V. K. Subburajstressed the need for a foolproof system that can restrict, curb and even eliminate causes leading to Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) as their reporting is hushed up or avoided to protect the reputation of hospitals and doctors also pointed out that in the next 10 years the number of pharma manufacturing units will rise by six times from current level of 12,000 units and it becomes all the more important for India to see that while its drugs manufacturing and their exports registered a manifold increase with no suspicion in their content and quality.
ADRs happen due to multiple reasons as variety of stakeholders are involved in drugs administration and therefore, the time has come when India is required to put in a place a sort of regulatory mechanism that can keep an eye to curb the menace of rising ADRs as the tendency that prevails currently is to hush up such cases.
“USA for example, set out to address this issue way back in 1962, consequently little number of cases of ADRs are reported there though India also awake to this fact in 1982, we have achieved little progress to contain ADRs. This is because it has not been able to create an effective mechanism to address the issue”, said Mr. Subburaj.
According to him, no definite and effective statistics and estimates are available as to how many cases of ADRs happen each year while in America such statistics are accurate and the system in place, India therefore, needs to emulate such a country to address the issue of ADRs with an effective monitoring system in place.
Later on speaking on the occasion Drug Controller General of India Dr. G N Singh concurred that ADRs is the serious issue and the authorities concerned are in constant touch and consultation process with functionaries of WHO so that protracted deliberations are concluded in which representatives 100 emerging economies assemble here and find out ways and means to evolve a regulatory mechanism to contain the menace of ADRs.
On the suggestion by the expert panelists that the pharmacists be allowed to prescribe medicines for ailments of general nature, the DCGI said that the government will view it with an open mind. He also stressed on the suggestion saying Pharm D graduate should be employed at district or sub-taluka level PHCs. He has also given a suggestion to classify the drugs into three categories i.e. the drugs (OTC) which consumer can take directly from medical store, few limited drugs which could be prescribed / suggested by pharmacists and the specialty drugs prescribed by medical doctors. This will also improve the access of healthcare services especially in areas where there is shortage of doctors while the pharmacists are available.
NABH guidelines will also now look at including the role of pharmacists for the accreditation said CEO, NABH Dr. K K Kalra.
For revision of curriculum PCI is very sensitive and working hard for it and also we are in process to start bridge course i.e B.Pharma Practice course to upgrade Diploma holders without affecting their livelihood by conducting classes/training in the evening and on weekends. Introduction of Pharmacy Practisizing Regulation in India is a major step towards defining the Pharmacists as Pharmacist Practitioners said by Smt. Archana Mudgal, Registrar-cum-Secretary, Pharmacy Council of India.
There is an urgent need of dedicated training institutes for Pharmacovigilance where professionals should be trained, Pharma curriculum should be revised w.r.t. advancements and strong awareness campaigns should run ADRs like Swach Bharat and make in India Abhiyaans said by Dr. Farhan Jalees Ahmad,Head of the Department Pharmaceutics, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
Mr. Ambarish Kumar Verma, CEO, NOVONOUS the knowledge Partner shared some statistics related to ADRs reporting and shared that India rank 7th in ADRs reporting across the globe.
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