Drug Information Centre (DIC) is an established concept in clinical practice abroad, in developed countries. Concept is just taking its shape here in India in recent years. Information is a key to prevent medication errors. Such information leads to Enhanced Quality of Patient Care and thus Improved Patient Outcome. With rapid Advancement in Medical and Biological Science, huge Information about Drugs & Diseases has emerged out. Access & authenticity of this vast information being limited, Rational Selection & Utilization of Drugs has been more complex. The conventional method of obtaining Drug Information is through the Medical Representatives & product literature provided by the manufacturers, which may be incomplete or biased.

The manner in which information is communicated is as important as the substance of the information. For information to be effective it must be accurate, reliable, accessible, user-friendly and provided at a basic and comprehensive level, depending on the consumer’s requirements. Information furnished by MSPC’s DIC has been fully authentic and retrieved mainly from internationally reputed database (Micromedex's Drugdex, USA) and it is delivered through any desired mode of communication. Drugs related queries have been sent to DIC by email, phone or post or in person and we respond to it immediately.

In the year 2006, we created first of its kind in country, and launched our own indigenous CD based interactive software to detect Drug-Drug Interactions in any given prescription to be dispensed by the pharmacist. Five therapeutic systems (Antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antianginals, lipid lowering, and antibiotics) have been covered in this program. In this easy-to-use software (CD) thousands of brands with corresponding generic drug names are loaded in computer system as a database from which interaction message appears on screen, once prescription entry is made.
1. Enter Prescription By Brand/Generic Names in DICP
2. Just Click On GENERATE INTERACTIONS button
3. All possible Drug Interactions in this Rx will appear on Screen…..
RED: Hazardous, major
BLUE: Moderate in severity
GREEN: Clinically Not Significant
18000 brands were entered in the system. Thus, any Adverse Drug Reactions can be nipped in bud in the first place. Pharmacist in drug store can check the prescription for any major interactions too. CD has been granted a copyright registration number by Copyright Office of Govt. of India too.

I wish very best to MSPC’s DIC and appeal one and all to use its services to have healthy society and well informed citizens. As it is said by a great healthcare professional “Information is the best Prescription”

Dr. Sampada Patvardhan (Ph.D.Tech.)
Ex-Director-Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council’s Drug Information Centre,
E.S.I.S. Hospital Compound, L.B.S. Marg, Mulund (W), Mumbai-400 080