6th international conference of SAC ACCP seeks active research to provide better healthcare delivery

SAC-ACCP 2013 Conference organising committee with guest faculty

The 6th international conference of the South Asian Chapter (SAC) of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) and the pre conference workshop on WHO ATC DDD methodology and drug utilisation research was recently held in Mumbai. The event was held in collaboration with the NIRRH ICMR Mumbai, WHO Oslo, GS Medical College, KEM Hospital and MUHS Nashik.

The conference was culmination of the ICMR, ACCP, WHO and Academic Institutions coming together. In 2012-2013 ICMR conducted five workshops on outcomes research, pharmacovigilance PKPD, antibiotics stewardship and statistics.

The proceedings of the Outcomes research workshop were released by Dr VM Katoch, Secretary DHR, DG ICMR, who promoted the development of clinical pharmacology in India.

Katoch said, “Outcomes research workshop, training participants from all over the country is important from the perspective of healthcare providers and regulators specially in the changing patients demography, disease patterns, drug development and access.”

Katoch in his inaugural speech emphasised the need for younger generation to do active research and translate it into better healthcare delivery to the poorest man in the country. He lauded the efforts of the National Chair in Clinical Pharmacology and the hard work done by the coordinators, mentors and participants of the ICMR workshops and appreciated specially in the multi-centre research projects done by them. He recognised the need for developing a network of researchers so that data from India representing all sectors can be obtained to take policy decisions.

Lectures were delivered by experts like Dr Ashok Vaidya, Dr Arun Bhatt, Dr YK Gupta, Dr NA Kshirsagar and Dr Nithya Gogtay. Besides lectures, demonstrations and group work, the participants who represented various states from the far-flung North East to down south, worked on multi-centric projects of great importance such as malaria, tuberculosis, anti platelet drugs and diabetes, They worked under difficult circumstances without funding, The interim analysis of their studies was presented at the conference.

The hard copy of the ICMR book on regulatory requirements for drug development and clinical research was released by Dr VG Somani, Deputy Drug Controller, CDSCO. This multi-authored book consisting of 27 chapter divided into three sections, was conceived and edited by academicians, researchers and industry experts with unique perspective and experience in regulatory requirements.

WHO workshop on ATC DDD methodology and drug utilisation research was conducted by Hanne Strom, Solveig Sakshaug, Christian Berg of the WHO Drug Statistics Methodology Center in Oslo Norway. The need for ATC/DDD methodology and drug utilisation research to evaluate prescription, product safety and efficiency and healthcare delivery was highlighted. Dr NA Kshirsagar, (ICMR) National Chair Clinical Pharmacology and Swati Chaudhary, IMS heath discussed opportunities in India, which was attended by 75 participants selected out of many applicants.

The conference was organised under the aegis of SAC-ACCP by organising committee where Sagar Bachhav was the organising secretary and Vishal Shinde was the treasurer. The conference allowed over 130 free paper presentations. The souvenir and CD of the conference was released by Dr GD Yadav, Vice Chancellor of Institute of Chemical Technology. International guest speakers Robin Ferner from the UK, Hartmund Derendorf and Guenther Haucchaus from the US, Priya Bari from European Medical Agency (EMA) highlighted various aspects of drug development, communicating and avoiding adverse reaction to drugs and Dr VP Kamboj and Dr OP Agarwal guided the participants with their expert comments.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai