DIA India presented its 8th Annual Conference in India at the NIMHANS Convention Centre in Bangalore. A conglomeration of researchers, academia and industry professionals representing diverse segments from manufacturing, regulatory, clinical, IT and allied services, the conference reflected DIA’s mission of fostering innovation to improve health and well-being worldwide, and attracted nearly 300 participants addressed by 82 speakers across four tracks, 22 sessions and three plenary sessions.
The theme of the annual meeting was ‘The New Clinical Research Environment in India: Implications & Opportunities’, considering the current Indian scenario. The meeting was graced by Prof Ranjit Roy Chaudhury (Chairman, Task Force for Research, Apollo Hospitals Group) and Anu Acharya, Chief Executive Officer, mapmygenome.in, who also served as keynote speakers. Dr Shoibal Mukherjee, Vice President, CMO India and Head Asia Medical Sciences Group, Quintiles and Sairamkumar J, Senior Vice President and Global Delivery Head, Cognizant Life Sciences served as the programme chairs.
The guest of honour, M Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Health & Family Welfare Department said in his inaugural address, “We are struggling very much in infant and mother mortality and public healthcare issues. Healthcare will play a significant role in combating it. We need to focus on basic science research which is the foundation for the healthcare industry.”
Gopal also opined that India is grappling with healthcare affordability, accessibility and quality issues, and culminated his speech by asking participants to come up with discussions and solutions to these issues that specifically relate to clinical research.
Roy Chaudhury, who headed the committee which recommended sweeping changes in India’s clinical trial sector, proposed that, after the government accepts and implements these recommendations, India will soon assume leadership status in clinical trials and garner limelight as the hub of global human studies. From the accreditation of centres conducting human studies to compensation, audiovisual recording of the informed consent, and joint monitoring by state drugs control departments, he sees these reforms as ensuring India’s place as a prime location for clinical trials.
Introducing such transparency will only add strength to the drug regulatory system, reduce bias in the decisions being made, and give all stakeholders a sense of satisfaction that clinical trials carried out in India are fair and that no exploitation of volunteer participants is possible, he explained.
He further proposed that the Union, state governments and research institutions create a fund to encourage academic and clinical research. “The Supreme Court needed to ensure that the government did not turn a blind eye to the development in the area of human studies. But, now, our solid recommendations for ethical and scientific human studies conducted in a transparent manner would see India at the forefront of human studies. Following these recommendations, the clinical research would be strengthened,” said Roy Chaudhury.
In his brief overview of the three-day programme, Dr Shoibal Mukherjee explained that clinical research is important for India because the country has major disease burdens. India must also look beyond its own healthcare models to other countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal, and the Southeast Asia region.
Sairamkumar also enthused that India is passing through an exciting time, and has great potential, in the areas of pharma and clinical research. “We have many problems to overcome but we have to seize the opportunities,” he said.
In her welcome address, DIA Board member and Chair of the DIA Advisory Council of India (ACI), Larisa Nagra Singh requested all delegates to take maximum advantage of the presence of experts who came to this conference from all over the globe. She especially and wholeheartedly welcomed all dignitaries, guest speakers, Dr Jagashetty, Drug Controller of Karnataka State, and keynote speakers, and thanked them for supporting the meeting on behalf of DIA India.
The most important part of the meeting was the first collaborative sessions on medical writing and ethics with All India Medical Writing Association (AIMWA) and Forum for Ethics Review Committees in India (FERCI). Both these sessions were greatly appreciated by delegates.
Dr Nimita Limaye (Vice President, Biometrics & Medical Writing, TCS), a member of the DIA India Advisory Council and DIA Community Leadership Council, delivered an insightful presentation on the educational and networking benefits of DIA Communities. He urged participants to join the communities of their interest. DIA Community information was further shared through the DIA booth in the exhibits, where other companies also showcased their expertise and services for the benefit of the attendees.
Highly interactive sessions delivered a healthy exchange of information regarding recent developments in new clinical research environments; global development of biosimilars and vaccines; patient awareness, advocacy and informed consent; risk-based approach to monitoring; medical writing, biostatistics, and other topics. A panel discussion was held on media, activism and judicial intervention in clinical research. It involved expert representatives from the industry, media and patient organisations.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai