The department offers 1-year undergraduate course in Pharmacology following Second Professional MBBS Examination as recommended by the Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council, which prepares students for 2nd Professional MBBS Examination of the University of Dhaka.

DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES:

The Department of Pharmacology aims to provide an integrated, need-based course on Basic Pharmacology for Safe and Effective Prescribing, ensuring that graduates are competent to: 

• Describe pharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse reactions of drugs to enable safe and effective prescribing.
• Apply principles of rational prescribing, considering efficacy, safety, suitability, and cost-effectiveness in clinical practice.
• Evaluate and compare therapeutic alternatives based on rational prescribing principles.
• Recognize, manage, and report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and drug interactions to ensure patient safety.
• Obtain informed consent by providing patients with adequate information about diseases, treatments, and alternative options.
• Identify and assess reliable drug information sources to support evidence-based prescribing.
• Understand and apply the concept of Essential Drugs in community-oriented healthcare services.
• Identify and mitigate the risks of polypharmacy and irrational prescribing, resisting external influences that compromise rational drug use.
• Evaluate the ethical and legal considerations involved in drug prescribing, development, manufacture, and marketing.
• Develop critical skills for appraising new drugs and clinical trial data to stay updated with advancements in pharmacology.
• Foster a lifelong commitment to continuous self-learning and professional development.

COMPETENCIES TO ACQUIRE 

A) Knowledge and Understanding 

Graduates will acquire foundational knowledge in: 

• Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics necessary for safe and effective prescribing.
• Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs): Recognition, management, and reporting.
• Principles of rational prescribing and drug selection based on safety, efficacy, suitability, and cost.
• Essential Drugs Concept: Selection and application of an Essential Drug List in clinical practice.
• Drug information sources: Accessing unbiased drug compendia, treatment guidelines, and formularies.
• Ethical aspects of prescribing, including informed consent and patient autonomy.
• Legal and regulatory frameworks governing drug prescribing, development, and marketing.

B) Skills 

Students will develop essential skills in: 

• Taking a comprehensive drug history.
• Writing accurate prescriptions, ensuring appropriate drug selection, dosage, and formulation.
• Selecting P-Drugs (Personal Drugs) based on rational prescribing principles.
• Recognizing, managing, and reporting ADRs and drug interactions.
• Critically appraising drug related information to support evidence-based prescribing.
• Prescribing drugs for special populations, including the elderly, children, pregnant and lactating women, and those with renal or hepatic impairment.
• Obtaining informed consent from patients before initiating treatment.
• Analyzing new research and clinical trial data to integrate evidence-based medicine into practice.

C) Attitude 

Graduates will cultivate a professional attitude characterized by: 

• Commitment to lifelong learning through continuous professional development.
• Effective communication with patients, ensuring informed decision-making and respecting patient preferences.
• Ethical and responsible prescribing to optimize patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.

This structured approach ensures that graduates are well-equipped to practice safe, rational, and ethical pharmacology in clinical settings.