Pharmacology is a field that includes drug medical applications, therapy, toxicology, interactions, properties and compositions and antipathogenic capabilities. The two main areas of pharmacology are pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The former studies the effects of biological systems on the drugs, while the former studies the effects of drug on biological systems. Pharmacokinetics discusses the excretion, metabolism, distribution and absorption of chemicals from the biological systems and pharmacodynamics discuses the interactions of chemicals with biological receptors.

Pharmacology is not synonymous with pharmacy and the two terms are generally confused. Pharmacology deals with how drugs interact with biological systems to affect function and it is the study of drugs and its reactions on the body, the sources of drugs and their properties and nature. On the other hand, pharmacy is a biomedical science dealing with dosage, dispensing, preparation and effective and safe use of medicines. Diploma in Basic Medical Sciences (Pharmacology) is a course that is offered only by a single medical college according to the Medical Council of India and this college is a government college. The name of this college and some of its details are given below:

• Institute of Postgradute Medical Education & Research, Kolkata

About Institute of Postgradute Medical Education & Research, Kolkata:

Way back in the year 1707, the first hospital in the city of Calcutta was built in the in the premises of the old Fort at Gerstein Place. From the year 1957 on the 16th of January 1957, the hospital was names as the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER) and it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India on the 16th of January 1957. Since then, the institute has been growing considerably with respect to number of courses offered and number of students and in other aspects as well.

About Diploma in Basic Medical Sciences (Pharmacology) course:

This PG diploma course extends to a period of two year duration and the course is offered only by this single institution in India, which is functioning with affiliation from the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

Eligibility requirement and admission procedure:

Like any other PG diploma courses, admission to the Diploma in Basic Medical Sciences (pharmacology) course is also offered to candidates with MBBS and compulsory internship completion certificate and they should also be registered with the Medical Council of India or any other state medical council. Admission is done based on the merit secured by the students in the national level PG medical entrance examination.