ABOUT INDIAN SOCIETY FOR RATIONAL PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS (ISRPT)

The Society was founded in New Delhi in 2007 by a group of about 20 pharmacologists. Letters regarding this proposed society were sent to the Heads of the departments of Medical Institutions. We received an overwhelming and encouraging response. A vast majority of them remained in touch and contributed by participating and providing valuable suggestions. It was agreed that a Society should be founded to meet at least once a year for the reading of papers on various topics of pharmacology related to Basic pharmacology, Rational Pharmacotherapeutics and to promote safe and cost effective use of medicines in the community. The forum could also be used for discussion of questions regarding teaching methodology; issues regarding publications and to promote friendly relations among researchers in the core areas not limited to only those mentioned above.

A provisional committee, consisting of the Pharmacologists who pioneered the idea, was appointed and was requested to draft constitution and rules related to the conduct of the activities of the Society. Draft of the constitution was approved by the committee and proceedings to get it registered with Registrar of the Societies and to create a website to give wider publicity to the Society were initiated.


The first scientific meeting cum workshop of the society was organized by the Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences, Dilshad Garden, Delhi on 24 and 25th February 2008. The main focus of the meeting cum workshop was to attract the young medical researchers and teachers to participate, and encourage and spread the culture of Rational Pharmacotherapeutics and safe use of medicines. Another important feature of the meeting was to design and modify existing curriculum in medical pharmacology. Clinicians and Pharmacologists actively participated and contributed in this workshop. Since the Medical Council of India and the medical education department of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were in the process of modifying and updating the syllabus and curriculum of pharmacology for Undergraduate (UG) medical students during this period, the Society utilized this opportunity to submit the modifications as discussed and suggested in the workshop. Inputs of the workshop were utilized in framing the updated draft of the Syllabus and Curriculum for Undergraduate Medical Students Courses. Many of the suggestions were incorporated in the drafts.

1st National Conference of the Society was organized by Dr. R.K. Jha Prof. & Head, Department of Pharmacology, Datta Meghe Institute of Health Sciences, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra on Februray 24th - 26th 2010. More than 200 delegates attended the Conference. The main focus of the meeting was to design a curriculum for pharmacology teaching in General and Rational Therapeutics in particular for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Special focus was to promote the need of teaching Pharmacovigilance to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Medicine and other disciplines of health sciences. Oral and Poster presentation sessions by the young scientists were well attended and best paper and best poster awards were presented. The Postgraduate Pharmacology Quiz was marvelous and appreciated by each and every one for the idea and conduct. Prizes were given to the winners and 1st runners up. In the GBM of the Society it was suggested that membership drive should be started to increase the membership of the society and also suggested to incorporate Specialists/clinicians/medical officers as associate members. This was unanimously accepted by the House and as a result many new members joined the society as full members as well as associate members.

Indian Society for Rational Pharmacotherapeutics is seriously concerned with teaching content and methodologies for teaching Pharmcotherapeutics and practical Pharmacology. The group also identified respective areas across the overall UG Pharmacology curriculum where stress is laid on horizontal and vertical integration. Many experimental teaching methodologies in the Science of Medicine, which were in vogue during the past 2-3 decades, have now been discouraged due to their streaks of animal cruelty aspects. It was stressed by many of the members to find and innovate the existing teaching and training methodologies for imparting the education in pharmacology and rational pharmacotherapy. Some suggested the success of Problem Based learning (PBL), where student is the active learner and tutor is the facilitator. The teaching learning process is strengthened by subject experts unlike traditional system of teaching and training where student is a passive listener and recipient of the knowledge. PBL inculcates a habit of acquiring knowledge through active efforts. It was reiterated by the some speakers that globally, several medical schools have successfully experimented with PBL and some isolated and sporadic efforts were made in India too. The members were exalted to experiment and share their experiences with the society to take this teaching methodology further.

Successfully teachers of pharmacology and allied clinical disciplines were brought to a platform to discuss the curriculum content in the discipline of pharmacology with an emphasis on acquisition and development of competencies in rational pharmacotherapeutics which are required for clinical practice in the diverse environments ranging from primary health care centre to a tertiary care setting where ever possible. In addition to its original functions, the Society has from time to time accepted other commitments. ISRPT organized several symposia on Basic life support training, Medical Emergencies in Dental practice, Pharmacovigilance and the concept of rational pharmacotherapeutics for Dental undergraduate and post graduate students in NCR region of Delhi. 

We hope ISRPT will lead to further development of safe and rational and effective use of medicines to help and strengthen the objective of the society. The society is open to suggestions and recommendations to further strengthen the objective of rational therapeutics. Anyone wishing to have further information or to offer help is invited to contact any of the following named.

The aims and objectives for which ISRPT is established are as under:

1. To foster and disseminate the science of drug research and its rational use.

2. For advancement of Clinical Pharmacology in the country.

3. To develop and suggest contemporary changes in curriculum and syllabus for Medical Undergraduate and Postgraduate students in Pharmacology.

4. To provide expertise for conducting and monitoring Clinical trials in India.

5. To foster the culture of Pharmacovigilance in the country.

6. To empower the patients / public in safe use of drugs/medicines (Patient advocacy).