WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

identify inappropriate dispensing, substandard care, and potential adverse drug reactions;
and

WHEREAS, This Act further requests the establishment of an educational program
for prescribers and pharmacists regarding drug use in the elderly; and

WHEREAS, There is a need for the State of Maryland to develop programs that will
support federal activities in this area and provide appropriate drug information to elderly
citizens of Maryland and to the health care providers that care for them; and

WHEREAS, Adverse drug reactions and interactions are a problem for the general
public and support is needed for health care providers who care for them; and

WHEREAS, The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is the State's primary
educational resource in the area of drugs and their use and is the home of the Center for
the Study of Pharmacy and Therapeutics for the Elderly; and

WHEREAS, The School of Pharmacy has operated the Maryland Poison Center for
16 years and has the experience of providing accurate information to health care providers
and the general public; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy be encouraged to develop a statewide drug
information center accessible to both patients and health care providers to meet the
information needs of these groups regarding the appropriate use of drugs concerning
medication; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy be encouraged to
establish a statewide consumer hotline to provide answers to patients' questions about
drug therapy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly support the efforts of the University of
Maryland School of Pharmacy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of
Legislative Reference to the Honorable William Donald Schaefer, Governor of Maryland;
the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; the
Honorable R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr., Speaker of the House of Delegates; and Dr. William
J. Kinnard, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 N. Pine Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 2.1201.

Signed May 19, 1989.

No. 8
(House Joint Resolution No. 18)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Financing the Cost of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 and Prescription

Drugs

FOR the purpose of urging the President and the Congress of the United States to

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