Campus Times | Lucknow

In a significant step towards promoting healthcare literacy beyond traditional medical education, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) has introduced a multidisciplinary course that will allow students from non pharmacy disciplines to gain essential knowledge about medicines, their safe usage, and possible adverse effects.

The course, titled Fundamentals of Medicines, Medication Safety and Therapeutics, has been developed by the Institute of Pharmacy as part of the universitys Multidisciplinary Courses (MDCs) for the upcoming academic session. It was approved during the Academic Council meeting, where a total of 71 multidisciplinary courses proposed by various departments received the green signal.

According to Institute of Pharmacy Director Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Mishra, the elective has been designed for students from all faculties except Pharmacy, enabling them to build a basic understanding of medicines and responsible healthcare practices irrespective of their academic background.

Course focus: from drug safety to patient awareness

The programme has been structured across two semesters. During the first semester, students will be introduced to modern medicine and Indias traditional healthcare system, including Ayurveda. The curriculum will also cover the evolution of medicines, the difference between generic and branded drugs, rational drug use, common disease classifications, basic treatment principles, and various dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, syrups, and injections. Students will also receive practical guidance on the safe storage and handling of medicines.

In the second semester, the emphasis will shift to understanding how medicines work inside the human body and how they can be used safely and effectively. The syllabus includes topics such as drug distribution, allergic reactions, toxicity, dosage compliance, management of missed doses, and patient counselling, helping students develop practical medication safety skills.

More interdisciplinary electives introduced

Alongside the pharmacy initiative, the university has approved several new multidisciplinary electives prepared by different departments. The Sanskrit Department has introduced a course on Jyotish (Astrology Studies), which will be available as an elective for students from faculties other than Arts. Meanwhile, the English Department has developed a Creative Writing course, while the Hindi Department has launched an E Writing for Technological Innovations programme aimed at strengthening digital writing skills.

The introduction of these interdisciplinary courses reflects the universitys growing focus on offering skill oriented and knowledge-based electives that extend learning beyond the boundaries of conventional academic disciplines.