In order to give a boost to the development of clinical pharmacology in the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which is celebrating its centenary year, has planned a series of activities beginning from January, 2012.

Explaining the significance of the ICMR's initiative in this direction, Dr Nilima Kshirsagar, National Chair, Clinical Pharmacology, ICMR said that the discipline of clinical pharmacology needs to grow exponentially to meet the future challenges and opportunities of the projected growth of pharmaceutical industry to 20 billion by 2020, competition with other emerging markets like China and Brazil and the predicted strategies of pharmaceutical industry to collaborate with health care providers.

The premier research institution in the country will embark on several activities like capacity building programme, human resource development programme, training programmes with hands on experience catering to industry, public health, research and services.

The proposal for 12th plan has envisaged development of centres of excellence, outcome research, computerization, interdisciplinary consortia, research in advancing areas of technology relevant to clinical pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, economics, rational use of drugs, ethics and regulatory requirements.

As a first step in this direction, a  series of workshops in specialized areas have been planned. They include modular course on pharmacovigilance; antibiotic stewardship, prevention of infection and control; research training program: from idea (I)/ research question to a grant proposal (i2p) and to manuscript for publication (i2m); research methodology workshop in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; and statistical concepts for clinical research.

The discipline of clinical pharmacology was started in 1960s in India and it contributed to development of new drugs, regimens, rational use of drugs, pharmacogenetic etc. This was mostly done in a few academic, ICMR, CSIR institutions and pharmaceutical industry. The 11th plan envisaged reduction in infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio, reduction in malaria and dengue mortality, maintaining DOTS coverage and response, enhancement in public health spending of GDP, increase in infrastructure and human resources.  Medicines form a substantial amount of out of pocket expenses but account for only 10 per cent of overall public health budget. 11th plan envisaged developing essential medicines list, standard treatment guidelines, safe drugs, their rational use and dissemination of information.

The proposal for 12th plan has envisaged development of centres of excellence, outcome research, computerization, interdisciplinary consortia, research in advancing areas of technology relevant to clinical pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, economics, rational use of drugs, ethics and regulatory requirements.