DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY
The Department of Pharmacology was established in April 1995 with Dr. Anil Goonetilleke as the Head of Department. Professor Gita Fernando became the Founder Professor of Pharmacology in July 1997. At present the department consists of seven academic staff. The department was also involved in the setting up of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree programme under the guidance of Professor Gita Fernando.
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine concerned with uses, effects and modes of action of drugs. Clinical pharmacology is the scientific study of medicines in man and encompasses pharmacology of commonly used medicines and their therapeutic application in the disease state.
Contact
+94 11 2881788 Ext: 4501
Mission
The mission of the department is to produce medical graduates capable of selecting the correct medicine to the underlying problem, taking into consideration the varying patient factors, availability, and cost.
Participation in Undergraduate Training Programmes
We participate in the MBBS degree programme.
- MBBS
- B.Sc. (Human Biology)
- B.Sc. (Nursing)
- B.Pharmacy
Participation in Postgraduate Training Programmes
The academics of the department have been involved in the planning of the MD in Clinical Pharmacology subspecialty training programme of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo and will serve as trainers once the programme is established.
Our staff also participate in training postgraduates in the M.Sc. in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and M.Sc. in Toxicology of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo. Several academic staff members are examiners for MD (Medicine) Examinations of the PGIM as well. Senior members of the academic staff are involved in supervision of review and evaluation of Postgraduate research degrees.
Some academics are also members of the Boards of Studies of these programmes.
Teaching Activities
- Lectures, tutorials and CALs are conducted for undergraduates of the MBBS programme during Phase II of the curriculum.
- Lectures and tutorials are conducted for undergraduates of B.Sc. (Nursing) and B Pharmacy degree programmes.
- Therapeutic ward rounds are conducted for final year medical students during their Medicine professorial appointment.
Facilities
The Department of Pharmacology occupies the third floor of the Phase IV new building complex. It has a well equiped laboratory, computer room, seminar room.
Services to the Community
Drug Information Centre
The Drug information Centre of the Department of Pharmacology is a National Centre for Drug Information, recognised by the Ministry of Health. The Centre provides information on Western medicinal drugs to medical and paramedical personnel in both the state and private sectors.
The department has also been recognized by the Ministry of Health as a unit to provide expertise for drug registration, especially the evaluation of pharmacokinetic profile of drug applications submitted to the MoH for registration. Some of the senior academics are involved in advising the MoH on many aspects of drug policy and management as well as providing technical expertise for development of new generic formulations for use in the state and private sectors.