It is important for all tiers of government and the private sector in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa to support clinical trials and research, stakeholders in the health sector have said.
In a communiqué issued after the 4th annual Summit on Clinical Trial organised by the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria (AGCPN)) in collaboration with the Nigerian Clinical Trial Technical Working Group in Abuja, they said doing so would help address public health emergencies in sub-Saharan Africa.
The stakeholders, who comprise international and local researchers, in the communiqué signed by Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, chairman of the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, called for political will by governments to drive the hub in all spheres of clinical trials.
They said government should support local production of vaccines in sub -Saharan Africa as a matter of public health emergency and national security.
Other resolutions in the communique include: that “there should be capacity development with clinical trials as a fulcrum towards addressing future public health emergencies in sub-Saharan Africa, harmonisation of clinical trials and qualitative research towards combating public health emergencies, adoption of translational medicine approach to integrate herbal medicines into the clinical trial process.”
The stakeholders also called for government support and funding of clinical trials, qualitative research and innovations, and for regulatory framework to be strengthened across sub-Saharan Africa.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu, during the summit said that Nigeria has the capacity to develop her own clinical trial industry with the human resources and knowledge at its disposal.
Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, chairman of the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria said the benefits of clinical trials are clear and multi-sectoral, adding that countries that have invested and grown their clinical research sectors have seen improvement in their national reputation, image and global relevance.
She called on the stakeholders to partner with the organisation on the Clinical Trial Africa -Vision 2020 Initiative to create a vibrant clinical trial pharmaceutical and medical devices industry in Africa.
