Department of Pharmacology

To provide the learner with knowledge of principles and concept of General Pharmacology, and systemic pharmacology including pharmacological actions, therapeutic uses, untoward effects, contraindications, interactions and variability of responses to drugs. This would enable them during their clinical years to make correct choice of drugs, and allow them to develop rational prescribing habits, and as clinicians to make critical appraisal of promotive information flooding the drug market.

At the end of the course instruction, the learner should be able to:

• acquire knowledge of the basic principles of pharmacology for rational, effective and safe use of therapeutic agents in health care.
• demonstrate the ability to relate the actions of drugs to their uses and untoward effects, for the purpose of tackling therapeutic problems; in particular, making appropriate choice of drugs
• acquire knowledge of the limitations of different drug preparations, which enable the prescriber to choose the appropriate drugs
• acquire knowledge of the variability of drug responses in individuals, the existence of drug interactions which may modify usual pharmacological effects, and the hazards of improper use of drugs
• apply pharmacokinetic principles to calculate plasma drug concentrations achieved, and make dosage adjustments to achieve optimal clinical effects
• to interpret the results of simple pharmacological experiments
• acknowledge the essential drugs concept
• get a habit of rational prescribing practice in providing health care in developing countries
• acknowledge pharmacology as a subject which plays an integral part of solving health problems