Teaching practical prescribing and therapeutics

As noted in our editorial in the last issue, continuity in medical education was the subject of a conference organized by the Association of Medical Education, and held in London in June 1982. One of the keynote speakers was Dr Andrew Herxheimer, whose contribution on teaching practical prescribing and therapeutics is printed below. Some will claim that the approach advocated by Dr Herxheimer is already being attempted, while others will wonder how such an increase in the competence of undergraduates is to be achieved in an already overcrowded curriculum. The paper should, at least, lead to discussion. Dr Herxheimer's paper is followed by a description of the Open University course 'Topics in Drug Therapy' (P550), made for the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education in England and Wales and launched in October 1982. It is aimed at all practising doctors, especially trainees and general practitioners.