Conference program
The International Society to Improve the Use of Medicines (ISIUM) is holding its second International Conference at the Kantary Hills Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 28-30 October 2023. The title of the Conference is:
Improving Use of Medicines: Connecting, Learning, Moving Forward
The program is shaping up to be very rich and varied … the latest version of the program is available here.
Our speakers will challenge us to consider rational use of medicines issues from many perspectives—the clinician, the patient, the journalist, the community, the statistician and the policy maker. There will be presentations of new ways to address old problems such as antimicrobial resistance and a panel discussion to contrast the national approaches to improving medicines use in several countries.
The program is sure to inspire and dare us all to do better in this important work.
The number of registrants will be limited, so if you haven’t registered yet, do it now … don’t miss out!
Social events during the Conference will include a welcome reception and a conference dinner – both social events are included in the cost of registration!
And also …
Immediately after the close of the Conference on October 30, there will be 2 or 3 special interest group (SIG) meetings starting at 15:30 and lasting until 17:00. The idea behind these meetings is to provide opportunities for people to continue networking and to discuss the development of future work plans. Topics for these meetings so far are below.
Special Interest Group 1: Rational drug use in the hospital setting
The aims of this workshop will be:
- to share experiences and discuss key strategies and tools to promote rational use of antibiotics in hospital setting, and
- to create a platform for ISIUM members and participants to network on research and practices of RDU in hospitals.
Thai delegates will share their experience of the PLEASE program that involves 6 key strategies:
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (strengthening)
- Labeling and Leaflets (preparation and drug information for the public)
- Essential tools (that promote RDU prescribing)
- Awareness (of RDU principles among health personnel and patients)
- Pharmaceutical care for Special populations, and
- Ethics in prescribing.
The session will be coordinated by: Phayom Sookaneknun Olson (main coordinator), supported by Pemmarin Potisarach and Areerat Leelathanalerk – all from Mahasarakham University.
Special Interest Group 2: Databases for rational use of medicines research
The aims of this workshop will be:
- to discuss and share methods and approaches in the use of databases in RUM research,
- to promote the development and use of guidelines for database research to increase quality and transparency, and
- to discuss the strengths and limitations of databases for research and policy monitoring and evaluation.
This meeting will provide a forum for the rational use of medicines community to share their expertise and experience in the use of tools and applications of real-world data and electronic healthcare databases, e.g., medical claims data, electronic medical records, disease registries, surveys, and other longitudinal linked databases) for RUM research, and policy monitoring and evaluation.
The session will be coordinated by: Penkarn Kanjanarat and Ratanaporn Awiphan – both from Chiang Mai University.
Special Interest Group 3: Measuring country implementation of a national program to promote rational use of medicines
The aims of this workshop will be to:
- discuss what constitutes a national program to promote RUM and to share experiences on how to measure its implementation,
- create a platform for ISIUM members to network on measuring country implementation of national programs to promote RUM.
The meeting will start with a discussion on what is meant by a national program to promote RUM, including monitoring of use and policy implementation. Participants will be invited to share experiences from their own countries. A pilot tool for measuring a national program will then be presented, followed by discussion on developing a tool that could be used by ISIUM members and participants in their own respective countries to measure implementation and effectiveness of a national program to promote RUM.
The session will be coordinated by Dr Kathleen Holloway.
Special Interest Group 4: Access and rational drug use studies in special populations
There have been various studies dealing with rational use of medicine. However, only some that targeted special populations. These special populations may include informal workers, homeless population, disabled people, etc.
The aims of this workshop will be:
- to share experiences on working for access and RDU with special populations
- to propose studies on these special groups of populations for better understanding
The meeting will start with the introduction and overview on some studies for access and RDU in special population, by Niyada. Then there will be a session on sharing experiences among participants in certain areas. This will be followed by a discussion on themes and methodological aspects. Finally, the meeting will conclude with an analysis and proposal of potential issues or topics about access and RDU in special populations.
The session will be coordinated by: Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee and a team from Chulalongkorn University.