E-drug: INDICES article Aus J Hosp Pharm
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reproduced from the INDICES website
http://prn.usm.my/others/indices.html
source:
Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 1998 (Apr); 28 (2): 115-16
title:
Development of an International Network of Drug
Information Centres (INDICES)
During October 1997 the German Foundation for International
Development (Deutsche Stiftung f�r Internationale Entwicklung - DSE)
hosted a seminar and training session to enhance drug information
services in developing countries. The meeting was held at the DSE
conference centre in Berlin and included ten consultants from eight
countries (Appendix 1) and 17 trainees from ten African countries
(Appendix 2). We were invited to participate because of our interest
in international drug information - in particular, the SHPA
International Register of Drug Information Services and a feasibility
study of increased cooperation between drug information services in
New Zealand and practitioners in developing countries in the Pacific
region.
Before the training sessions the consultants and trainees met to
ascertain the drug information requirements of health professionals in
the African countries represented. Naturally the resources available
and the methods of delivering drug information varied considerably
from those commonly used in countries like Australia and New Zealand.
There was a substantial need for basic (but up-to-date) textbooks,
simple computer systems, reliable communications, and support from
external organisations. A major focus of the meeting was to determine
if and how the Internet could assist with the development of drug
information in developing countries. Although many areas in Africa do
not have access to the Internet - or in some cases reliable
telephone/facsimile services - this should improve with the
introduction of services such as Healthnet which provides a
computer-based telecommunications system which links healthcare
workers around the world. Healthnet uses low earth orbit satellites,
simple ground stations and radio- and telephone-based computer
networks to provide basic Internet services in participating countries
(1).
During a meeting hosted by DSE in 1995, there was a proposal to
establish an electronic network for drug information providers (2).
INDICES (International Network of Drug Information Centres) commenced
as an e-mail discussion group in 1997 (Appendix 3). It promotes
discussion of practice issues in drug information and helps with
specific drug information enquiries.
During the 1997 meeting the consultants developed a strategic plan to
broaden the aims and scope of INDICES so that it will become a leading
global network for drug information. It was agreed that INDICES should
advocate rational drug therapy (particularly in developing countries)
by providing global access to quality drug information. The network
will assist drug information services and healthcare workers by
offering leadership, training and support. Some of the initial
activities will be to develop:
1. a secretariat and Web site to promote INDICES and its functions
(Appendix 3); 2. a starter pack for drug information practitioners in
developing countries; 3. a list of resource sites prepared to assist
INDICES with specific questions from a global list of users; 4.
partnerships between established drug information centres and
developing services in other areas of the world; and 5. research
proposals based on a database of drug information references and
questions processed by INDICES.
Our idea is that many questions asked by pharmacists with few
resources can be answered rapidly by a well resourced partner site
simply by accessing their in-house database. Thus there is the
potential for efficient and valuable information sharing which can be
further enhanced by directing enquiries to sites with specific
expertise. Another possible function of INDICES would be to direct
simple research projects to schools of pharmacy. Many of these
projects (e.g. drug stability) could be performed by undergraduate
students as part of their pharmacy course.
Although many of INDICES functions use the Internet, many services do
not have reliable access to the Internet. Alternative forms of
communications will supplement the Internet where necessary. These
could include telephones and facsimiles to send information to INDICES
and distribution via established printed publications such as the
Essential Drugs Monitor which is distributed to many areas of the
developing world.
From an Australian and New Zealand perspective, INDICES provides the
following opportunities:
1. Participation in an Internet discussion group which focuses on drug
information issues (Appendix 3).
2. Becoming an INDICES resource site and assisting with specific
enquiries sent via the INDICES moderator. Questions will be directed
to the most appropriate site based on specialist knowledge, available
resources and previous workload.
3. Partnering a drug information service or practitioner. INDICES will
provide initial contacts with partner sites and monitor progress with
the relationship. The developing site will gain expertise and
continuing support while the established site will gain a greater
insight into the culture and healthcare practices in another area of
the world.
The next meeting of the INDICES organising group is planned to be held
in South Africa. At that meeting we hope to confirm the organisational
structure of INDICES and proceed with funding applications to support
the training and support functions which are a major component of the
INDICES vision.
Although INDICES was originally designed to promote drug information
in developing countries - and this remains a major focus - the
organisation can also link drug information practitioners throughout
the world. There is currently no organisation which represents the
interests of independent drug information providers on a global basis.
INDICES is multinational and multicultural and has existing links with
major organisations dealing with rational drug distribution and usage
policies.
It was a privilege to attend the INDICES meeting in Berlin and we
encourage our colleagues, particularly in Australia and New Zealand,
to participate in INDICES. Further information can be obtained from
the authors or the INDICES secretariat (Appendix 3).
References
1. Global communications for health. Web site:
http://www.healthnet.org/hnet.html. 2. Saunders P, editor. Report on
the international seminar on improving access to drug information in
developing countries; 1995 May 28 - June 3; Berlin, Germany. German
Foundation for International Development; 1995.
Appendix 1. Drug information consultants who attended the INDICES
planning meeting, Berlin, October 1997 Leesette Turner, South Africa
(Coordinator) Ossy Kasilo, National Drug & Toxicology Service,
Zimbabwe (Coordinator)
Wilbert Bannenberg, WHO/South African Drug Action Program, South
Africa Geraldine Bartlett, TPS Drug Information Services, South Africa
Daphne Fresle, WHO Drug Action Programme, Switzerland Markus Fritz,
Swiss Drug Information Center, Switzerland Dzulkifli Abdul Razak,
National Poisons Centre, Malaysia Philippa Saunders, Essential Drugs
Project, United Kingdom Graeme Vernon, Austin & Repatriation Medical
Centre, Australia David Woods, University of Otago, New Zealand
Appendix 2. National distribution (number of participants) of trainees
Eritrea, Gambia, Kenya (4), Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa (2),
Tanzania (2), Uganda (2), Zambia, Zimbabwe (2)
Appendix 3. Contact details for INDICES and related organisations
INDICES is an e-mail list which provides a forum for discussion of all
matters relating to drug information. To subscribe to the list send a
message to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org The message should read:
subscribe indices (followed by your e-mail address).
Send e-mail for the INDICES conference to:
indices@usa.healthnet.org
E-mail administrative requests to:
majordomo@usa.healthnet.org For additional assistance, send e-mail to:
owner-indices@usa.healthnet.org
INDICES secretariat:
C/- TPS Drug Information Centre
PO Box 3128
Braamfontein 2017
South Africa
Web site: http://prn.usm.my/others/indices.html
Tel: + 27 11 339 4811/31
Fax: + 27 11 339 3819
Graeme M Vernon, BPharm, FSHP, BA
Senior Drug Information Pharmacist
Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria
E-mail: vernon@austin.unimelb.edu.au
David J Woods, BSc (Hons), MPharm
School of Pharmacy
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
E-mail: david.woods@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Address for correspondence:
Graeme Vernon
Pharmacy Department
Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre
Heidelberg Vic. 3084
Australia
Wilbert Bannenberg, SADAP Coordinator
Hallmark 938, P/Bag X 828, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Tel work +27-12-3120374/5 Fax +27-12-3236745 Cellphone +27-82-5756249
Email WilbertBannenberg@compuserve.com or bannew@hltrsa.pwv.gov.za
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