Online Rational Medicine Use at UWC 29June- 3July 2015

A NEW Online Rational Medicines Use Module will be offered by
the University of the Western Cape Schools of Public Health and
Pharmacy, in collaboration with the SIAPS, Prof Richard Laing (BUSPH and
ex-WHO) and other partners.

This 15-credit online masters-level module will run from July-November
2015 and may be taken as a single continuing education module or as an
elective in the existing MPH at UWC. (Attendance at one week RMU Winter
School short course 29 June-3 July 2015 recommended but not compulsory).

For information on module and application details see: _
http://www.uwc.ac.za/Faculties/CHS/soph/News/Pages/NEW-Online-Rational-Medicines-Use-Module.aspx_

Applications close: 7 June 2015

Further information from Dr Hazel Bradley:
hbradley@uwc.ac.za
 +27 21 9592630/2809

This module is specifically developed to equip healthcare professionals
such as pharmacists, doctors and nurses with the necessary skills to
improve rational medicines use.It will be of value to members of
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees, MPH students and staff working in
pharmacy and health departments in South Africa and other African
countries. The module builds on the one-week Rational Medicines Use
Winter School short-course which will be held 29 June - 3 July 2015
(attendance recommended but not compulsory).

The 15-credit, online masters-level module (NQF9) may be taken as a
single continuing education accredited module or as an elective module
in the existing MPH programme at UWC. Additional online modules focusing
on Pharmaceutical Public Health will be available in 2016.

Module Content

- Rational medicines use and problems associated with irrational medicine use;

- Medicines use problems using several quantitative methods such as, prescribing indicator studies, application of defined daily dose (DDD) and ABC

- Qualitative methods to investigate prescribing behaviour and medicine use;

- Promotion of rational medicine use including educational, managerial, economic and regulatory interventions;

- Medicines Use Evaluation (MUE) and its application to programmes

- Essential Medicines Concept and the development of Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and Essential Medicines Lists (EMLs) using evidence-based decision making principles;

- Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) concepts with respect to global and local situations and multifaceted strategies required

- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) and stewardship of RMU;

- Development of a plan for a defined medicine use problem to quantify, investigate and intervene, with evaluation.

Method of Teaching and Assessment
Students will be provided with all materials in an electronic format over the web and by electronic storage
media. Key reading materials will be provided. There will be short weekly tasks, several web-based discussion forums and two written assignments. Official language: English

Admission requirements:
Honours-level degree (NQF8), or equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

Module Cost: R8 000 (South African citizens) and US$1,300 (Other)

[Note: RMU Short-course Winter School fees waived for registered RMU Online Module participants]