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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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Year : 2013 | Volume
: 4
| Issue : 2 | Page : 154 |
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Role of pharmacologists in clinical research: The onus is on us
Jagjit Singh
Department of Pharmacology, GMCH, Chandigarh, India
Date of Web Publication | 14-May-2013 |
Correspondence Address: Jagjit Singh Department of Pharmacology, GMCH,Chandigarh India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2229-3485.111804
How to cite this article: Singh J. Role of pharmacologists in clinical research: The onus is on us. Perspect Clin Res 2013;4:154 |
Sir,
I read with interest the letter to editor by Imran. [1] The author has plucked the right chord at appropriate time. He has rightly pointed out the current lackadaisical attitude of majority of pharmacologists in area of clinical therapeutics. While basic pharmacology is being taught with lot of vigor and fervor it fizzles out when it comes to interaction with physicians and prescribers. We hardly ever succeed in convincing our clinical colleagues over the rationality of rational drug use. They usually contend with the thinking that "practice is different from theory." Besides the suggestions by the author, I think it will be of utmost use if we make postings in clinical wards during PG training mandatory. In a survey of one hundred thirteen post-graduate students eighty three percent respondents felt that the curriculum provides inadequate practical training on research methodology. [2] Adequate hands-on training of the residents in research methodology and critical appraisal of scientific literature will prove a boon to them when later in their career they will be faced with queries from their clinical counterparts regarding the safety or efficacy of a new drug. Ghosh et al., have proposed half a-dozen areas of expertise, including pharmacovigilance and drug regulatory affairs, desirable to be incorporated in teaching curriculum of post-graduates. [3] At faculty level more interactive and frequent staff meetings for better amalgamation of the subject into clinical practice is required. This would help in mitigating the isolation of pharmacology departments from the mainstream medicine seen in many medical colleges today.
References | |  |
1. | Imran M. Pharmacologists' participation in teaching hospitals for shaping future clinical research in India. Perspect Clin Res 2012;3:149-50.  |
2. | Chakraborty A. A survey on postgraduate pharmacology education in India. Indian J Pharmacol 2010;42:253-4.  [PUBMED] |
3. | Ghosh RK, Ghosh SM, Datta S. Training of postgraduate pharmacologists in India - The need for alignment with the emerging roles in the pharmaceutical industry. J Postgrad Med 2010;56:168-9. 3.  |
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