This programme will be conducted by the Speciality Board in Clinical Pharmacology and report to the Board of Management through the relevant Board of Study, which offered training in CPT as a subspecialty and commenced the training (Eg. Board of study in Medicine or Board of study in Paediatrics etc).
The need for clinical pharmacologists in the Ministry of Health (MoH): The Director/Medical Technology and Supplies (D/MT & S) and Director/Medical Supplies Division (D/MSD) are the two focal points for dealing with drugs in the MoH. If the Ministry has the services of clinical pharmacologists the present problems that it is facing such as procurement problems, delays, poor quality drugs, drugs going out of stock, wastage, big expenditure on local purchase could be reduced. The limited health care budget could be used more optimally.
The need for clinical pharmacologists in the Hospitals: Most teaching hospitals in the developed world and also in the region have clinical pharmacologists attached to them. Often, they function as general physicians with specialized knowledge in clinical pharmacology. The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka has a single pharmacologist, and presently he is attached to the Medical Research Institute (MRI). However, for a country with a population of 19 million we will definitely need a lot more clinical pharmacologist.
The need for clinical pharmacologists in the universities: Pharmacology is the only para-clinical discipline in the universities where presently there is no established training programme for postgraduate training in Sri Lanka. The establishment of a training programme in this speciality is long overdue. Having academic staff Board certified in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics will improve the strength of the academic programme offered by Departments of Pharmacology in Sri Lanka.
The need for clinical pharmacologists in the local pharmaceutical industry: There are no medical professionals trained in clinical pharmacology in the local pharmaceutical industry. Clinical pharmacologists in the industries could contribute constructively towards appropriate promotion of medicines, new drug development, clinical trials, bioequivalence studies, drug information and pharmacovigilance. They can create a conducive environment in the industry towards better use of medicines.
Private sector: The private sector in health care is expanding rapidly and it is likely that some of the private hospitals will also need the services of clinical pharmacologists.
The duration of the training programme will be a minimum 3 years. As in other sub-specialties an additional period of about 3 years after MD (Part II) is needed to complete the training in CPT. Compulsory 2 years of local and 1 year foreign training. Can pursue 1 more year of foreign training with the approval of the Specialty Board.
Course structure
Stage I – Entry Point
Stage II – Local 2 years
Stage III – Overseas 1 year
Stage IV – Board Certification
At the end of the training period and Board certification, the trainee should be able to do the following
- Practice independently as a clinical pharmacologist in clinical, administrative and research settings both within and outside the ministry of health.
- Apply person centred care and effective teamwork skills in practicing as a consultant.
- Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct while practicing as a consultant clinical pharmacologist.
- Engage in continuous professional development as a lifelong learner.
- Conduct high quality research and audits related to clinical pharmacology within the ethical frameworks in biomedical research.
- Provide leadership in clinical pharmacology related matters at national, regional, and organizational level.
- Successful completion of MD in General Medicine or other accepted disciplines such as paediatrics, anaesthesia, oncology and psychiatry.
- Trainee should not have been Board Certified by the PGIM in any Specialty or Subspecialty
Please refer to the relevant prospectus for the most up to date information. The prospectus of a particular programme contains official information pertaining to a programme approved by the Board of Management, University Senate and the University Grants Commission