News from NGSMIPS | Two-Day International Virtual Conference on “Advances in Health Economics and Outcomes Research”

The Department of Pharmacy Practice, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in collaboration with The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) organised a two-day International Virtual Conference on “Advances in Health Economics & Outcomes Research” on the 27th and 28th of November 2020. The aim of the conference was to provide a platform for students, academicians, doctors, industry representatives, heath care professionals and researchers to broaden their horizons in Pharmacoeconomics and health care outcomes and thereby promote the efficient use of medicines. The conference also intended to create an environment for innovative and novel perceptions in health economics in order to achieve cost-effective health outcomes by improving the quality of life of the patients. 

The Conference received an overwhelming response with 260 enthusiastic registrations from students, research scholars and teaching faculty from Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Tamil Nadu, UK and Iran. 

The Conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Prof. (Dr.) M. Shantaram Shetty, Honourable Pro-Chancellor NitteDU, Dr. M. S. Moodithaya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, NitteDU, and Prof. (Dr.) C. S. Shastry, Principal, NGSMIPS. The inauguration also included the release of the e-souvenir by the Chief Guest. Prof. (Dr.) C.S. Shastry, Principal, NGSMIPS, welcomed the gathering and introduced the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour. He also highlighted the theme of the conference and reiterated the significance of holding the conference during a time when the world is under the siege and ill-impact of the covid-19 pandemic. Presiding over the function, Prof. (Dr.) Shantaram Shetty, Honourable Pro-Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed to be University), emphasised the importance of health economics and the importance of ensuring patient safety during the implementation of conventional therapy. Dr. M. S. Moodithaya, expressed satisfaction and stressed upon the fact that encouraging the appropriate use of medication and affordability to patients in the midst of the current financial turmoil is the need of the hour and it cannot be overlooked. 

The two-day virtual international conference was concluded with vote of thanks proposed by the convener, Dr. Uday Venkat Mateti, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, NGSMIPS. During the two-day virtual conference, eight scientific sessions were conducted on the theme of “Advances in Health Economics & Outcomes Research”. Scientific Sessions on 27th November 2020 (Day 1) Dr. Sandipan Bhattacharjee, University of Texas, Austin, USA delivered a highly informative and interactive talk on the real world evidence in health economics and outcomes research. He clearly defined real world data and emphasised on the importance of developing original and regional data repositories by means of using social media. 

Dr. Sai Krishna Gudi, University of Manitoba and Junior Epidemiologist - Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Health, Seniors and Active Living (HSAL), Canada gave special importance to case reports and its place in the research pyramid. He highlighted the need, role and importance of case reports in drug safety research as an essential component for the conduct of successful research and systematic reviews. 

Mr. Rajesh Thalapparambath, Manager, In-Patient Medication Management Services, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Saudi Arabia delivered the third talk of the day. He lucidly explained about medication safety in perioperative and procedural areas. He shared his own practical findings and observations of how minor medication errors led to fatalities and commented on the indispensable roles of a pharmacist in improving clinical outcomes in the surgical unit and within the pharmacy. 

The three scientific sessions was followed by lunch and then e-poster presentation in which 25 e-posters were displayed for 2 minutes each. Subsequently, 9 virtual oral presentations were conducted under the category of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) and Epidemiological Studies. Dr. M. Ramesh, Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru and Dr. Prasanna R. Deshpande, Assistant Professor, Poona College of Pharmacy were the 2 independent evaluators for blinded evaluation. 

This was followed by 10 oral presentations under the category of Pharmaceutical Care. Dr. Manthan Janodia, Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Management, MAHE, Manipal and Dr. Ramanath K. V, Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Dayananda Sagar College of Pharmacy, Bangalore were selected for independent blinded evaluation. 

Each participant was allotted 10 minutes (7 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for deliberation with the judges) for their presentation. 

Scientific Sessions on 28th November 2020 (Day 2) 

The first speaker, Mr. Amarjeet Singh Makkar, Licensed Community Pharmacist and the Director of Keewatin Medical Centre and Pharmacy, Manitoba, Canada, delivered a talk on the expanding roles and responsibilities of community pharmacists in Canada. He also elaborated on the fundamental differences between a clinical and community pharmacist in Canada. Dr. Rajesh Balkrishnan, University of Virginia, USA shed light on the moral, ethical and scientific principles to be followed by budding professionals to ensure patient safety during practice. He further elucidated how research in Pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Anil T. M, International Medical University, Malaysia, emphasised the importance of pharmaceutical care as the need of the hour. He elaborated on the basic concepts of Pharmaceutical Care and commented on the interventions of pharmacists to ensure patient safety and good economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes. 

The three scientific sessions of Day 2 was followed by lunch and then e-poster presentation in which 12 e-posters were displayed for 2 minutes each. Subsequently, 10 virtual oral presentations were conducted under the category of Pharmacovigilance (PV)/Patient Safety and Case reports. Dr. Krishna Undela, Assistant Professor, NIPER, Guwahati, and Dr. A. Nagesh, Assistant Professor, BIPS, Kakatiya University, Warangal conducted independent blinded evaluation. 

The oral poster presentations were followed by the next speaker, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, DUPHARM LLC, Dubai. Dr. Kumar spoke on the methods of patient reported outcomes and laid special emphasis on how the legal aspects of the country could play a vital role in the approval and retrieval of medications. He stated that legal aspects directly and indirectly play a fundamental role in ensuring patient safety and economic outcomes. Major (Dr.) Shivakumar Hiremath, Medical Superintendent, Justice K.S Hegde Charitable Hospital delivered an engrossing session on the economic aspects of investigational therapy. Through his presentation, Dr. Hiremath covered aspects of insurance, tax and touched upon the safe use of investigational drugs during the COVID-19 crisis. 

The valedictory function began by Dr. Juno J. Joel, Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice, NGSMIPS summarizing the events of the two-day virtual conference. Dr. M. S. Ganachari, Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice, KLE College of Pharmacy was the key note speaker for the session. Dr. Ganachari appreciated the efforts of the organising committee and highlighted specific take home messages for the delegates from the two-day international conference. 

Dr. Sophia M. George, Asst. Professor, NGSMIPS announced the awardees of the e-poster and oral-presentation category. 

Glimpses of the e-poster and oral poster presentations