E-drug: Third African Course in Pharmacotherapy Training
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FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT - CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
The University of Cape Town, in collaboration with the World Health
Organisation Action Programme on Essential Drugs, will be holding the
3rd AFRICAN COURSE IN PHARMACOTHERAPY TRAINING between 22 November - 1
December 1999.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
To teach teachers of pharmacology and therapeutics to equip their
students with adequate skills and knowledge to prescribe drugs
rationally. The course will enable participants to plan, develop and
implement this problem-based teaching method.
COURSE RATIONALE
Irrational drug choice is prevalent in both the industrialised and
developing countries. As a result drug therapy may prove ineffective,
unnecessarily expensive or unsafe. Contemporary medical education
emphasises diagnosis; undergraduate teaching in therapeutics is still
a neglected topic in most institutions. This course will assist
lecturers to teach principles of rational prescribing outlined in the
WHO's Guide to Good Prescribing.
COURSE METHOD
The African Course is based on the methodology developed by the
University of Groningen, with some adaptation of the course content to
better meet the needs of therapeutics teachers in Africa. It
introduces a logical, step-by-step approach to a patient problem:
setting therapeutic objectives, selecting appropriate (pharmaco-)
therapy, and monitoring the response to therapy. It also emphasises
the importance of correct prescribing and good patient-doctor
communication. These principles have been disseminated through the
Groningen Summer Course in Problem-based Pharmacotherapy over the past
six years, and by the African Course since 1996.
The method places participants into an active role of a student, as
well as teacher and prescriber.
Additional modules will be developed to specifically target those
areas that the participants are involved in which support the rational
use of medicines. Small groups will meet with an expert in the given
field, to strengthen participants' existing programmes, and facilitate
ongoing collaboration.
COURSE FACILITATORS AND PARTICIPANTS
Five international and regional pharmacologists will jointly
facilitate the course.
Lecturers and teachers of pharmacology and therapeutics at medical
schools and postgraduate teaching institutions are invited to
participate in this course. Unfortunately, only English-speaking
participants can be accommodated, as the course will be conducted in
English.
COURSE FEE
1. The course fee is US$ 3 000 including full board and lodging,
tuition fees and educational material, but excluding travel expenses.
2. Applicants should contact their local or regional WHO office
directly, as the WHO has previously sponsored a number of course
participants.
3. A limited number of scholarships will be available
through the course organisers. Preference will be given to those
who can cover travel expenses and partly fund registration fees.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
1 August 1999
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, and requests for application forms and
scholarships, please contact:
Ms Sherlayne Koonin
Department of Pharmacology
Medical School
University of Cape Town
Observatory 7925
South Africa
Tel: 27 - 21 - 406 6355
Fax:27 - 21 - 448 0886
email: skoonin@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za
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