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Recommendations on education and training requirements for establishing a drug and toxicology information centre in a developing country
Author(s) -
Kasilo O. M. J.,
Nhachi C. F. B.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1993.tb00873.x
Subject(s) - pharmacist , pharmacy , medicine , chemist , medical education , drug , service (business) , training (meteorology) , clinical pharmacy , health care , pharmacology , medical emergency , business , nursing , political science , meteorology , physics , quantum mechanics , marketing , law
SUMMARY In most developed countries, centres that provide drug and toxicology information are not combined because these services are best handled by separate personnel. However, from our experience in Zimbabwe, it is important for developing countries to consider combining the two services due to limited resources, both human and financial. Education and training needs for establishing a drug and toxicology information centre depend, inter alia on the objectives and functions of the centre and the available financial and human resources. A clinical pharmacist, clinical pharmacologist or pharmacist should be properly trained in drug and poison information. Clinical knowledge is a prerequisite for functioning in a formal drug and toxicology information service centre. The personnel should be able to perform the functions of the centre effectively with appropriate expertise in drug information and poison information. The overall aim in training pharmacists or clinical pharmacologists as clinical toxicology consultants is to educate them to recognize and provide information to health personnel in the management of acutely poisoned patients with acute and chronic toxicities from drugs, and other chemicals. It is suggested that a drug and toxicology information centre is more beneficial to the community when it participates in the teaching of undergraduate pharmacy and medical students and in the continuing education of health‐care professionals. Therefore, the centre should be located in a medical teaching institution. It is important that the centre should be self–sufficient and independent.