Strategic priorities for clinical research in Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, clinical research is experiencing a substantial increase, driven by regulatory changes and institutional initiatives. Simultaneously, it faces substantial obstacles in infrastructure, investment, and human capital that impede the clinical research, adversely affecting the national productivity and global reputation. This editorial emphasizes the importance of focusing on evidence-based priorities that will improve clinical research in Pakistan, utilizing local data with independent oversight and regulated by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) and World Health Organization (WHO). The priorities to bring in the reforms include: standardization of gadgets, training staff and health sector graduates, sustainable funding and national and provincial governmental constitutional policy reforms. Observations comparable to neighboring countries data underscore diverse potential outcomes prompting intervention.