Pharmacology is the study of the actions and fates of drugs and other chemical substances in biological systems. The Department of Pharmacology at College of Medicine -Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences(NAIHS) is one of the basic medical science departments established in 2011. The college is affiliated to Institute Of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University (TU), thus it is following the community oriented, integrated teaching/ learning curriculum of MBBS programme of the university. The integrated basic medical science teaching is of two years duration (first and second year MBBS).
Vision of the department•To provide international standard quality pharmacology/clinical pharmacology education to students from inside and outside the country.
•To be a recognized and distinguished unit in the field of clinical pharmacology by imparting the understanding of the principles of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics to future doctors.
•To educate and train medical undergraduates to prescribe rationally and to carry out basic research in the field of clinical pharmacology.
•To encourage students to participate in national and international scientific gatherings to uplift their own clinical and drug related skills.
•To establish benchmark therapeutic drug monitoring laboratory and poisoning unit.
Goal of the department
• To facilitate the development pharmacology and therapeutics as an integral part in the medical sciences (basic and clinical) both in undergraduate and postgraduate level
• To lead pharmacology field in both educational and research aspects upto the flagship status in Nepal.
• To produce well-round professional and competent prescribers
• To enhance the teaching learning process for MBBS, BNS and BSc nursing students in integrative manner with basic medical sciences according to the TU-IOM curriculum.
• To train on rational prescribing based on WHO guidelines.
• To provide clinical services like adverse drug reaction monitoring, therapeutic drug monitoring and drug information services to the prescribers and patients.
Department informations
The department is located on the first floor of the NAIHS Basic Science complex. It has separate room for HOD and all faculties. Department has separate practical laboratory, research laboratory and museum with systemically arranged drugs and devices. It also comprises a conference room with computer, departmental library, demonstration room, tutorial/problem based learning (PBL) room, reception with office assistant and computer, and a pantry. There are seven full time faculties, one resource faculty and one administrative staff for the smooth functioning and running of the department.
Current activities
1.Academic activities:
a)Undergraduate:
The department is currently involved in teaching MBBS, BNS and BSc nursing students. The department has developed separate practical manuals for the first and second year MBBS students according to the curriculum. The manual for the first year students provides the basic concepts in common drug dosage forms, therapeutic drug monitoring, measurement of plasma cholinesterase in organophosphate poisoning and the process of rational treatment. The manual for the second year students focuses on the process of rational prescribing and includes details on'P'drug concept, differences between' P' drug and 'P' treatment, how to write appropriate prescription, how to give information, instructions and warning to the patients ,pulmonary drug delivery devices and instruction for use of some common drug dosage forms.
b)Postgraduate:
Post graduate teaching program in Clinical Pharmacology: To train a candidate specialist in clinical pharmacology competent to teach pharmacology and therapeutics and to carry out research in clinical pharmacology. The post graduate programme is conducted as per curriculum of TU-IOM. The programme aims to produce well trained clinical pharmacologist for the country.
Other postgraduate programs: Clinical Pharmacology teaching in various postgraduate programmes
2. Drug information service:This unit provides drug information as and when required for the prescribers as well as to other staff and patients for promoting rational use of medicines. This improves the quality of patient care.
3. Research:The department is involved in research in the hospital setting as well as in the community to investigate different aspects of drug use including prescribing, dispensing, adverse effects etc.The department also encourages undergraduate students to undertake research projects under the aegis of Institutional Review Committee.
4. Therapeutic drug monitoring laboratory : Plasma cholinesterase measurement service is provided by TDM lab in SBH as organophosphate poisoning is common in this part of world.Plasma level monitoring and interpretation of antiepileptics like phenytoin, carbamazepine, and paracetamol (overdose) is planned that providesdata forclinical decision making.
5. Drug and therapeutics bulletin: It has been started from 2021 and available online in the NAIHS website .This bulletin intends to provide updated and reliable information on medicines and other related issues in an attempt to equip healthcare professionals to take informed decision in recommending medicines to the patients. https://www.naihs.edu.np/Notice/Naihs-Drug/1.pdf
Future Plans:
1. Clinical toxicology service: As toxicology is a specialized area, the clinical pharmacologists in the unit will provide bedside consultation and on call consultation for poisoning/drug overdose cases
2. Training: To organize regular training on rational use of drugs interns,postgraduate residentsand other prescribers to promote the rational use of drugs. This will also publish standard treatment guidelines in collaboration with various hospital departments
Faculty List
