Professional role of the clinical pharmacologist.

The position of clinical pharmacologists in the field of medicine is reviewed. In more than one-third of the medical schools in Europe, teaching of clinical pharmacology is inadequate or non-existent. The situation in Italy is even worse; there are, however, 18 schools of specialization in pharmacology in that country, covering four areas, clinical and applied pharmacology, toxicology and chemotherapy with the course lasting four years. In addition there are 13 hospitals at regional level which provide service in clinical pharmacology, though in most of these the clinical pharmacologist has no direct clinical responsibilities. Three basic requirements, accepted by the College of Italian Pharmacologists, are listed aimed at obtaining official recognition of the professional role of a physician specialized in clinical pharmacology.