The Indian Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur will host an eight-day workshop on 'Promoting Rational Drug Use in the Community' from January 23 to 30, 2005. The course is based on a World Health Organisation (WHO) programme, meant for individuals and organizations as a response to the need for effective planning, research and implementation of rational medicines use practices in the community.

The first of its kind course concentrates on methods to study and remedy inappropriate medicines used in the community, including an essential analysis of what shapes medicines' demand. Participants will be exposed to practical approaches for investigating and prioritizing medicine used problems, and how to develop effective strategies for change. There will also be a focus on rational use of antibiotics, drugs used for AIDS, Malaria and TB.

The programme is organized in association with WHO's Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (EDM), Geneva, SEARO, New Delhi, Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD), New Delhi, Rajasthan Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (RSPRUD), Jaipur and Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics.

According to organizers, the workshop would touch upon essential medicines concept, try to understand what influences medicines used by the consumers, investigate medicines used pattern and identifying problems, prioritize problems related to medicines used by the community and conduct a rapid appraisal to analyze problems and identification of solutions.

The speakers who are expected to attend the programme are Dr Jawahar S. Bapna, Dr Dennis B. Batangan, Dr Kamaxi Bhate Dr Prem C. Dandiya, Dr Manageme Shiv D. Gupta, Dr Usha Gupta, Dr Nirmal Gurbani, Dr Reinhard Huss, Dr Pooran Joshi, Dr Gurdas Khilnani, Dr Mukul Mathur, Dr Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, Dr Rameshwar Sharma, Dr Sangeeta Sharma, Dr Uma Tekur, Dr Göran Tomson, Dr Krisantha Weerasuriya and Dr Patricia Wolf.

The programme is a condensed version adopted from the official WHO course for two weeks on 'Promoting Rational Drug Use in the Community’ for health programme staff from ministries of health, Universities, development agencies, nongovernmental and other organizations, and individuals interested in improving drug use in the community.