MMedSc Course

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY

UNIVERSITIES OF MEDICINE

M. Med. Sc. (PHARMACOLOGY)  

Aim & Objectives

Aim

• To provide opportunity for qualified candidates to pursue a course of study leading to the M.Med.Sc. degree in Pharmacology
• To promote and strengthen teaching and research activity at the post-graduate level which will further elevate the standard of Pharmacology
• Toproducepersonnel equipped with specialized knowledge and skill of an advanced level for the health service, teaching and research in the field of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology

Objectives

To achieve knowledge of

• basic pharmacology principles and concepts
• recent advances in Pharmacology and related disciplines
• basic research methodologies
• basic medical educational science in teaching of Pharmacology

To acquire skills in

• performing basic experiments to demonstrate Pharmacological principles
• performing basic laboratory techniques in Pharmacology
• planning and carrying out research and writing a research paper
• writing and defending a research protocol/thesis
• research paper presentation
• preparing and delivering lectures/tutorials/ practical sessions
• utilization of information technology

To develop

• a critical attitude towards claims in the literature
• a scientific attitude towards solving problems
• essential habits of selfeducation
• personal attitudes such as caring, initiative, organizational ability; potential to cope with stressful situations and undertake responsibility;earn trust; demonstrate worthiness and reliability; to understand and communicate intelligibly with patients and others; to behave in a manner that establishes professional relationships with patients and colleagues; ability to work in a team, a critical enquiring approach to the acquisition of knowledge

1. Selection of Candidates

Criteria for Application

                                          Selection of candidates will be made by the Postgraduate Selection Board. The candidate must have M.B.B.S. degree from one of the Medical Universities in the Union of Myanmar or an equivalent degree recognized by the Myanmar Medical Council.

Selection Examination

Question type  -  Multiple                                       Choice Question (MCQ)

– 5 responses/stem´ 60 stems

  Hours - 2 hours

System of grading- minus system, not carried over

Pass marks      - 60%

Number of Candidates Intake

            Maximum six candidates for each Medical University

2. Duration of the Course

            The duration of the course is two academic years. It comprises two parts.

First year

    The course consists of seminars, journal reading, discussions,written assignments and laboratory works. In addition, the candidate must duly submit the assignments on the topics provided by the course instructors.

Second year

This part of the course consists of clinical training and research in an approved research project. The candidate will be required to undergo threemonths of hospital attachment at the start of second year, and to submit a thesis on the research project approved by the Board of Studies.

Candidates may continue research for thesis if necessary for a maximum period of three yearsafter admission.

The candidate will be conferred with the degree only after he has satisfied the examiners in both parts.

It is recommended that international training and collaboration with other universities should be encouraged to achieve the higher level expertise comparable to international standard.

3. Teaching Hours

            Theory                                     - 25 weeks

            In-coursetraining works          - 19 weeks

            N.B. Laboratory practical reports must be written up and submitted to the Head of the department concerned after completion of each experiment.  The results and discussion should satisfy the Head of the Department concerned. The marks obtained should be 60% and above. Otherwise, the students have to repeat that experiment.

4. Teaching/ learning Methods

First Year

Teaching Methods include lectures, discussion,presentations, seminars and journal reading on selective topics, and laboratory works.

Seminars          : as required, each session lasting 2-3 hours.

Discussions     : as required, each session lasting 2-3 hours.

Journal reading         : as required, minimum once a month

                                      Each candidate will be provided with a log book in which he/she is required to enter his /her daily activities.

Second Year

Clinical training: Materials and Methods

• • Case based learning (encourages the performance of a trainee in their management of a patient to provide an indication of competence in areas such as clinical reasoning, decisionmaking and application of knowledge in relation to patient care. It also serves as a method to document conversations about, and presentations of, cases by trainees. It should focus on a written record such as written case notes onpatients.)

Hospital attachment 3 months at the start of second year MMedSc course (Half a day at Medical wards)

-           Presentation and seminar on

(a) Drug utilization in various clinical setting including high risk patients

(b) Drug interactions

(c) GMP (Good Medical Practice)

5. Teaching Aids:      Using appropriate teaching/ learning aids and media for laboratory work,and LCD projector, computer and library for lectures, discussion and assignments.

6. Evaluation

The Examination consists of two parts:

            1.  First year examination and

            2.  Second year examination

First Year examination

                    The type of assessment is summative. The final examination is held at the end of first academic year of the course. It comprisesfour papers: Paper 1, Paper 2, paper 3and Paper 4. Time allowed for each paper is 3 hours. Threeessay type questions are to be answered in each Paper.

The topics covered in paper 1-4

Paper 1(General Pharmacology) are:

• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Pharmacogeneticsand gene therapy
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Discovery and development of drugs
• Essential drugs concept and rational prescribing practice
• Drugs in pregnancy, lactation, elderly, children and coexisting disease states
• Toxicology: toxicity tests (including OECD), selective toxicity, antidotal therapy

Paper 2 (Systemic Pharmacology I)covers:

• Drugs on Autonomic Nervous System, Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular System and Renal Pharmacology

Paper 3 (Systemic Pharmacology II)covers:

• Drugs on Gastrointestinal system
• Autacoids
• Treatment of Bronchial asthma and Cough
• Endocrine pharmacology& drugs acting on uterus
• Basic and clinical pharmacology of Antimicrobial agents
• Chemotherapy of bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoal infections and infestations
• Cancer Chemotherapy and immunomodulators

Paper 4 (Principles and applications of Methodology)

Principles and applications of following methodology:

• Isolated toad rectus abdominis preparation
• Isolated rabbit intestine
• Isolated rabbit heart
• Isolated guinea pig tracheal chain
• Isolated rat uterus and rat fundus
• Affinity constant (guinea pig ileum)
• Oestrous cycle
• Acute toxicity of drugs
• Research Methodology

The type of questions for all written papers is essay type questions and the time allowed is three hours and the allotted marks for each paper are75.

Written Paper Assessment

It is independently assessed by the chief examiner and the co-examiners based on the following:

1.   Relevance of answers to question                                                            

            If relevant continue the following assessment.

2.   Structure and organization of presentation                                                          

3.   Comprehension                                                                                        

4.   Grasp of concepts                                                                                    

5.   Clarity of expression                                                                                            

6.   Ability to express pharmacological basis                                                            

7.   Discussion                                                                                                

8.   Conclusion remarks                                                                                             

9. Correct use of technical and pharmacological terms                                 

Viva voce: (25 marks for each paper)

                        Candidate has to sit for a viva voce examination. The duration is about one hour. Each candidate is assessed by the Chief examiner, a co-examiner and an external examiner, usually the Heads of Pharmacology Departments of the four Universities of Medicine and Defense Services Medical Academy.

Questions from various aspects of each paper are asked, e.g. scope and depth of knowledge, tackling pharmacological and therapeutic problems and methodology, etc. Individual score is given by each examiner, and an aggregate is taken as the final score for viva voce of each paper.

He or she has to satisfy majority of the members of the Board of Examiners and a comprehensive systematic approach of the subject is a requirement.

NB. 75 marks for each written paper and 25 marks for viva voce of each paper

Criteria for Passing (Assessment pattern for passing)

	Total marks	Viva voce	Passmark
Paper 1 General Pharmacology	75	25	60% out of 100%
Paper 2 (Systemic Pharmacology I)	75	25	60% out of 100%
Paper 3 (Systemic Pharmacology II)	75	25	60% out of 100%
Paper 4 Principles and applications of Methodology	75	25	60% out of 100%

Criteria for credit

            An aggregate of 75% in three papers and not less than 65% in each compartment

Criteria for Distinction

80% and above score in each compartment

Supplementary Examination

            A compartment system is practiced i.e. candidate need to resit for the paper/sin which he/she failed. A supplementary examination is held within 3 months after the regular examination.

Number of attempts

This is restricted to three. This means if the candidate fails in regular and supplementary examinations of 3 months apart,the candidature is to be terminated (3F system).

Second year examination

Thesis

The thesis must be the original unpublished (in Republic of the Union of Myanmar) work of the candidate.

The candidate must submit a thesis approved by the Board of Studies and defend it to the satisfaction of the Board of Examiners.

Thesis Defense          

Defense of the thesis is assessed by the Board of Examiners.

After the approval of the Chairman of Board of Study and the supervisors, the submitted thesis assessment is based on the following:

1. a critical and sufficient review of relevant literatures
2. a scientific and rational approach in solving the research problem
3. application of relevant statistical methods
4. skills acquired in planning and carrying out research
5. appropriate use of text, tables and figures in presentation of results
6. skills in oral defense of the thesis
7. make a contribution towards scientific knowledge of the discipline