This slightly edited message from Dra Anna Rodreiguez from Havana
is being posting to [log in to unmask] by <[log in to unmask]>. You
may respond directly or via me here or at <[log in to unmask]>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From:         "Dra. Ana Rodriguez" <[log in to unmask]>
  To:         Sam Lanfranco <[log in to unmask]>
  ----------------------------------------------------

I am  pleased to give you an outline of our work in order to show you
our
goals and needs of information.

Pharmacoepidemiology Development Center is a young research and
management
Center devoted to rational drug use. Currently it has a year of life,
and
we are starting to create an Information Department with the purpose to
obtain as much information as possible in current therapeutic
approaches,
new drugs developed, drug's policies at international level,
international
trainings for our researchers, international meetings in the field.

We are trying to establish a therapeutic service that will function for
the
whole country, giving to each question made by any doctor, the most
adequate and updated answer about a drug or therapeutic decision to be
made
in a specific patient or problem.

Also we are interested in establishing exchange relationships with
colleagues from other countries devoted to Pharmacology,
Pharmacoepidemilogy, Information, Informatics, Rational Drug Use.

Attached is a brief description of our Center.
Thank you very much

Best regards

Dr. Ana Rodriguez       "Dra. Ana Rodriguez" <[log in to unmask]>
Head Information Dept.
Pharmacoepidemiology Development Center
44#502 esq 5a. Ave
Miramar, Playa
Havana, Cuba
CP 11300

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTER


Pharmacoepidemiology Development Center is a very young center created
with the purpose of obtaining rational drug use by Cuban physicians and
health personnel.

It was considered necessary to:
1. Create a Pharmacy and Therapeutic committee at municipalities in a
total
of 169 in the whole country, directed by a specialized Family Doctor.
2. Create a municipal Pharmacoepidemiology Group in every municipality.
Currently exists 29; the total is in development.

Once this net was created, it is in charge of:
1. Describing drugs use patterns.
2. Identify inadequate therapeutic practices, which might be improved,
according to health necessities and based in scientific evidence of
assurance, effectiveness, and costs.
3. Update prescriptores with scientific information on therapeutics by
means
of written or electronic information.
4. Create the continued education system for prescriptores.
5. Coordinate and promote research on Pharmacoepidemiology.

Pharmacoepidemilogy Development Center works in the following fields:
1. Regulations:
Submitted in agreement with the Ad-Hoc group and National Formulary
Group constituted by members of the Specialties National Groups and are
in charge of:
- Doctor's prescriptions
- Distribution level of different drugs (Hospitals, Primary Care
Settings,
and Emergencies)
- Basic Group of Drugs: deciding which must be substituted,
incorporated or eliminated, according to latest scientific reports.
2. Scientific Information:
- Therapeutics and drugs information bulletins with WHO support.
- Teleconference: communication is obtained with main district ' s
cities
at the same time, in order to discuss a topic of therapeutic interest.
Contact is made with more than 200 Pharmacoepidemiologists,
Primary Health Care specialists, Family Doctors and Health Officers to
discuss subjects of current interest.
- Seminaries.
- Therapeutic consultation directed to the Municipality
Pharmacoepidemiologic Group.

3. Research:
Basic activity of the Center, who designs research topics for all over
the
Country.

4. Continued Education:
Courses directed to different levels of the Health System: Primary Care,
P&T committees, Hospital's Pharmacies, National Health Institutes.

5. Management:
- Supervises the National Drug Program related with the controlled sale
of drugs used in chronic non-transmissible diseases, which require
long-term treatments.
- Attends solicitudes of Health Ministry and Pharmaceutical Industry
about analysis of
important problems.

Address:

Pharmacoepidemilogy Development Center
44 # 502 esq. 5¦. Ave
Miramar, Playa
Havana, Cuba
CP 1300
FAX: (537) 24-7227
Phone: (537) 24-0924
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
------------------------------------------------------