Australia’s health ministers have agreed to reduce regulatory roadblocks to clinical trials
Australia’s health ministers have agreed to reduce regulatory roadblocks to clinical trials
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council met in Perth this month to discuss ways to improve trial start up times.
Clinical trials are currently hampered by rules that differ between states, and even between hospitals and research institutions across the country.
This fragmentation has affected Australia’s attractiveness as a preferred location for trials, according to council.
At the meeting on 8 April, health ministers agreed that the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council should develop models to increase efficiencies and better engage sponsors.
Medicines Australia, the lobby group for the pharmaceutical industry, has welcomed the move, saying it will increase the number of clinical trails conducted in Australia, providing jobs for medical practitioners.
Medicines Australia says the current “confusing and complex approach” makes Australia less competitive with regions such as Asia for clinical trial investment.
“More can be done to reduce the complexity of initiating a clinical trial in Australia,” Medicines Australia said.
However, public health expert Professor Stephen Leeder cautioned against taking the reforms too far as the regulations surrounding clinical trials ensured high standards and allow hospitals to manage risk.
“This is a local process and cannot be entirely centralised,” he said.
Professor Leeder said the argument that clinical trials would go offshore was probably an idle threat as Australia compared favourably to Asia in terms of research quality.
