Clinical Trial Management (CTM) is being outsourced by the multinational pharmaceutical industry to Asian and Eastern European Contract Research Organisations (CROs) often being the destination of a business expected to reach volumes of $20 billion by 2010.
This business is in its infancy in Pakistan, although with its large number of English-speaking physicians, a network of high volume medical centres coupled with the low value of the Rupee, the country should be an attractive venue for Contract Research.
In pursuit of the idea stated above, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, are planning a Seminar/Workshop titled "Contract Research - Opportunities and Challenges in Pakistan".
A pre-seminar meeting of selected Pharmaceutical MNC's was held, to have a preliminary interactive discussion for better understanding of the concepts and to seek possible endorsement of such an initiative.
Tariq Ikram, the Minister of State and CEO, TDAP, instigated the discussion by outlining the main objectives of the meeting which were to understand Clinical Trial Management, what Pakistan can offer to the Foreign CRO's, identifying the gaps in our system for the same and how to make the environment more viable for the foreign countries to invest in Pakistan for Clinical Research.
Ikram also informed the discussants that the authority would take every possible measure to provide support in this area so that both the government and the pharmaceutical MNC's jointly benefit and promote Pakistan's potential in this field.
During the meeting, the participants endorsed the idea of organising the seminar after sharing their knowledge, experiences and observations, stating that it would help recognise and encourage the need of having Clinical Trial Management in Pakistan.
It was also brought to light that timely and adequate planning is required to promote and create awareness about the opportunities in this sector so as to create a niche for Pakistan in this $60 billion global sector.
A group has been formulated to shape the structure of the seminar which includes Dr Rashid Jooma, Executive Director, JPMC; Mujeeb Khan, Head WTO Cell, TDAP Dr Yousuf Hassan Khan, Chief Executive Officer, IRD; Mr Khurrum Zaki Khan, Chief Executive, Metrics Research Dr Murtaza Qasuri, Medical Director, Eli Lilly Pakistan (Private) Ltd; Dr Zainab Chagla, Manager Medical Services, GlaxoSmithKline Ms Seema Khan, Director Regulatory Affairs and Dr Raif Khan, Medical Director, Abbott Laboratories Pakistan Ltd.-PR
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