AFRO-NETS> Training Course in Promoting Rational Drug Use

[Dr Wilbert Bannenberg <bannew@hltrsa.pwv.gov.za>]

Training Course in Promoting Rational Drug Use
----------------------------------------------

2-15 July, 2000
Nigeria

INRUD Secretariat, Management Sciences for Health, Drug Management 
Program, Essential Drugs and Other Medicines, World Health Organiza-
tion, INRUD Nigeria, Departments of Pharmacology & Medicine, College 
of Medicine of the University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hos-
pital, Federal Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Division announce a 
two-week course for physicians, pharmacists, health programme manag-
ers, officials from ministries of health, universities and private 
organizations, and other individuals interested in promoting the ra-
tional use of drugs.

Trainers: Prof. I. Abdu-Aguye, Dr. Fola Iyun, Dr. David Lee, Prof. A. 
F. Biola Mabadeje, Dr. Sam Muziki, Dr. David Ofori-Adjei, and Dr. 
Ogori Taylor.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course will focus on methods of studying and remedying inappro-
priate drug use, including problems with ways in which drugs are pre-
scribed, dispensed and consumed. Participants will learn practical 
approaches for applying key concepts such as essential drug lists, 
indicators of drug use, and methods for changing inappropriate drug 
use behaviour.

COURSE DESIGN 

The course will be conducted in English and will consist of presenta-
tions, discussions, group activities, and fieldwork. This course is 
highly participatory, and the exchange of skills and experience among 
participants adds depth to the learning process. Course materials are 
based on those developed by Management Sciences for Health, the Har-
vard Drug Policy Group, World Health Organization (WHO), and Interna-
tional Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) country core groups. 

Experiences gained in the field by participating countries and stud-
ies presented at the 1st International Conference on Improving Use of 
Medicines, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 1997, will be examined. The partici-
pants will be exposed to a wide range of international experiences 
and materials.

COURSE CONTENT

- Identification of drug use problems 
- Factors that influence prescribing patterns 
- Indicators for assessing drug use 
- Methods to evaluate effectiveness of drug use interventions 
- Field exercises to assess drug use 
- Standard treatment guidelines for improving quality of care 
- Influencing prescribing patterns 
- Changing prescriber training 
- Public education about drug use 
- Planning intervention studies

COURSE FEE AND APPLICATION 

The fee of US$ 2,250.00 covers tuition, course materials, shared ac-
commodation, and three meals a day. Those unwilling to share accommo-
dation must be prepared to pay extra for single rooms (rates avail-
able upon request). Participants should plan to bring sufficient 
money for incidental expenses like laundry, postage, telephone calls, 
souvenirs, airport tax, etc. Airfare and health insurance are the re-
sponsibility of the sponsoring organisation. Participants should also 
expect to receive 15 kg of training materials. Details about exact 
course location and lodging will be provided at a later date. Par-
ticipants arriving after July 6, 2000 will not be accepted to join 
the course.

Applications and fees are due no later than May 31, 2000. Please send 
applications to: 

Prof. A.F.B. Mabadeje 
INRUD Nigeria 
Departments of Pharmacology & Medicine 
College of Medicine of the University of Lagos 
Idiaraba, Lagos - Nigeria 
Fax: +234-1-5849582 / +234-1-821501 
mailto:biolamab@linkserve.com.ng

The International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) Secre-
tariat is located at Management Sciences for Health (MSH), in Arling-
ton, Virginia. In 1989, MSH collaborated with the Drug Policy Group 
at Harvard Medical School, the World Health Organization, the Karo-
linska Institute, and senior health professionals in Africa and Asia 
to form INRUD. INRUD core groups have been established in Bangladesh, 
Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Nepal, Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, 
Uganda and Zimbabwe. 

The Harvard Drug Policy Group assists in carrying out scientific and 
technical functions of the INRUD Secretariat. The MSH Drug Management 
Program, formed in 1981, works to improve the availability, afforda-
bility, quality, and appropriate use of essential drugs through tech-
nical assistance in planning, implementing, and evaluating pharmaceu-
tical management programmes. It has conducted over 20 courses and 
workshops involving nearly 500 participants in Boston and developing 
countries worldwide. Topics include national drug policy, selection, 
procurement, distribution, financial management, and use of pharma-
ceuticals, as well as training in computer applications for drug 
supply management.

WHO Essential Drugs and Other Medicines (EDM) was formerly the WHO 
Action Programme on Essential Drugs. WHO EDM provides operational 
support to countries in developing national drug policies, emphasiz-
ing the concept of essential drugs and rational drug use. The depart-
ment assists in building leadership, promoting advocacy and mobiliz-
ing global collaboration to improve the world drug situation. WHO EDM 
works on four important principles: 
(1) to respond to the needs of member states; 
(2) to strengthen national capacity through improved infrastructure
    and training; 
(3) to promote decentralized decision making and operational respon-
    sibility; 
(4) to integrate the essential drugs programmes into the overall
    health care system. 

WHO EDM also undertakes a comprehensive range of research and devel-
opment activities aimed at solving problems in procurement, equal ac-
cessibility, and appropriate use of safe and effective pharmaceuti-
cals. It publishes many relevant materials, including the Essential 
Drugs Monitor.

ABOUT THE TRAINERS

Prof. I. Abdu-Aguye is a professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Dean 
of the Faculty of Medicine of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospi-
tal, Zaria, Nigeria. He served for many years as a member of the Ni-
gerian National Formulary and Essential Drugs Review Committee and he 
is now the Chairman of the Committee.

Dr. Fola Iyun is a professor of medical geography at the University 
of Ibadan, a Vice-President of the International Geographical Union 
and currently teaching at the Pan African Studies Department, Univer-
sity of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She has been involved with drug 
use studies in treatment of childhood diseases in Nigeria since early 
1990s. She has also worked extensively with INRUD in the development 
of qualitative research approaches in drug use studies as the first 
social scientist in the INRUD Nigeria Core group.

Dr. David Lee is Deputy Director and Drug Information Coordinator for 
the Drug Management Program at MSH, and is the INRUD Coordinator. 
 From 1983 through 1993, he worked for the Panama Social Security 
Medicines Commission. During this period, Dr. Lee also collaborated 
extensively with the Pan American Health Organization in formulary 
development, drug utilization research, and drug information work-
shops in many Latin American countries.

Prof. A.F. Biola Mabadeje is a Clinical Pharmacologist and the Head 
of Department of Pharmacology at the College of Medicine of the Uni-
versity of Lagos. He is also a Consultant Physician and head of the 
Dialysis Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital He was the 
Chairman of the Nigerian National Formulary and Essential Drugs Re-
view Committee from 1985 until 1994. He is a foundation member and 
also the Coordinator of the INRUD Nigeria Core Group.

Dr. Sam Muziki is now working with WHO/AFRO Temporary Office in Ha-
rare. As a former national trainer for eight years in the Uganda Es-
sential Drug Management Program (UEDMP), he was involved in the pro-
duction of a number of training materials for different cadres of 
health personnel. He has assisted many African countries to develop 
their National Drug Policies.

Dr. David Ofori-Adjei is the Director of the Noguchi Memorial Insti-
tute for Medical Research, and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at 
the Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the 
University of Ghana in Accra, Ghana. Dr. Ofori-Adjei coordinates the 
INRUD Ghana Core Group. He is involved in the Essential Drugs activi-
ties of the Ministry of Health and has contributed to the publication 
of Treatment Guidelines for different levels of health providers. His 
major interests include improving drug use in Ghana, particularly for 
malaria.

Dr. Ogori Taylor is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of 
Clinical Pharmacy at the College of Medicine of the University of La-
gos. She has attended the PRDU Course and has been an INRUD resource 
person at a number of workshops held locally as well as internation-
ally.

--
Dr Wilbert Bannenberg
SADAP co-ordinator
Dept. of Health
Republic of South Africa
mailto:bannew@hltrsa.pwv.gov.za


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