1. Title of the Course:
Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine
(Diploma de Postgrado »Medicina de la Industria Farmacéutica«)

2. Main University organising the Course:
Autonomous University of Barcelona
(Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona)

3. Address of Secretariat of Course:
Department of Clinical Pharmacology
Hospital de la Sta. Creu i St. Pau
Avda St Antoni Ma. Claret, 167
E-08025 Barcelona
Spain

Telephone number: +34-3-2919018
Fax number: +34-3-2919513
E-mail address: fjane@hsp.santpau.es

Course Director: Prof. Francesc Jané

4. Year of Foundation of the Course: 1986
Language of the Course: Spanish

5. Seminars/Modules:
Number of Seminars/Modules: 14
Duration of each Seminar/Module: 4 to 24 hours
Frequency of Seminars/Modules: 1 day/week from January to June
Distribution of Seminars/Modules over time: 2 years (compulsory)
Hours of teaching of the full course: 210
Distribution:
Seminars (didactic lectures): 70%
Workshops: 20%
Group discussions: 10%

Distance learning or home work: no

The course is taught: At a single site

The programme of the Course covers all items mentioned in the Syllabus of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

6. Hours of teaching:
Clinical Research: 60 hours
Regulatory Affairs: 10 hours
Pharmacovigilance: 10 hours
Statistics: 14 hours
Pharmaco-economics: 8 hours
Marketing & Business matters: 16 hours

7. Teachers:
Total number of teachers participating in the programme: 46
Of whom:
From Industry: 16
From CROs: 3
From academic institutions: 12
From Regulatory Authority: 5
From other organisations:
University Hospitals (mostly Clinical Pharmacologists) 7
Toxicologists 3

8. Course material:
The course material consists of paper documents as well as of electronic media.
The course material is prepared by each teacher.

9. Students:
Average number of students registering:
To the full course: 25 every two years
To individual Seminars: not applicable
To the examinations: 30

Requirements to register for the course and the examinations:
Degree of Medicine, Veterinary, Pharmacy, Biology

Usual ratio physicians to non-physicians: 100% physicians from 1986 to 1996
55% to 45% from 1996 to 2000 (last 2 diplomas)

10. Examinations:
Examinations are held every two years and are only written.

The written examination includes:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): 80 at the end of the 1st year
In addition candidates receive 10-15 questions which require a brief dissertation (mark from 1 to 10) at the end of the 2nd year. At the end of the 1st year the candidates also have to write up a clinical protocol which has to be developed and discussed during a seminar in the 2nd year. A Tutor, member of the Faculty, is in charge of assisting the pupil in this project.

Who writes and updates the MCQs? (please circle right answer)
Each teacher individually with supervision by a specific committee

Duration of the written examination: 1.30 to 2.00 hours

Attendance to 80% of the Course is compulsory for sitting the examination.

Assessments are made also during the course.

11. Recognition:
Although not officially, the Diploma is “recognized” both by the employers of the pharmaceutical industry and the Regulatory Authorities

12. Fees:
Fee for the attendance to:
The full course: +/- 3,000 Euro
Single Module/Seminar: not applicable
The examination: none
A fee is requested for awarding the diploma.

SUMMARY
This is a 2-year non-residential course consisting of 14 Modules of various duration (between 4 and 24 hours) depending on the subject. Courses are all taught at the University, 1 day per week from January to June of each year representing a total of 220 hours of teaching by 46 teachers of which 16 are from Industry. The average number of students registering every two years is 30. Up to 1996, only physicians were eligible for attending the course; since 1996, PhDs in Life Sciences are also accepted. The present ratio of physicians to non-physicians is 55% to 45%. Examinations are written only. To register for the examination, candidates need to have attended at least 80% of the course. The fee for the full course is around 3000 Euro.