Clinical drug experts gather at conference

Almost 150 of Europe’s top experts on medicines will gather at the University of Ulster this week as part of the European Drug Utilisation Research Group’s (EuroDURG) annual scientific congress.

The event, which is being held in Ireland for the first time, is to take place at the Coleraine campus on Thursday and Friday. Researchers from 18 European countries will present and discuss their findings in several key areas including:

• Measuring prescribing quality.
• Improving patient compliance.
• Prescribing for children, pregnant women and older people.
• Improving prescribing in hospital and general practice.
• Prescribing by nurses and pharmacists.
• Harmful effects of prescribed medicines.
• The growing threat of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Local conference organiser, Professor Hugh McGavock, Visiting Professor of Prescribing Science, said: “The decision of EuroDURG to come to Coleraine is a tremendous coup for the University of Ulster. The delegates include some of the very best researchers in the world in this field including a large contingent from Sweden, one of the leading centres in the world for research into the efficacy and safety of prescribed medicines.”

EuroDURG is a scientific society studying the use of medicines by patients, doctors, pharmacists and nurses and researching ways to improve the safety and effectiveness of medical treatment.

(MB/SP)