‘Community approval needed before clinical trial’

Kathmandu: Community approval should be sought before going for a clinical trial of any vaccines/drugs. Speaking today at a panel discussion on 'clinical trial based on facts and research' held on the sidelines of the 10th National Summit of Health and Population Scientists in Nepal organized by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), the stakeholders concerned stressed this. Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, said the implementation of criteria for clinical trial has not been effective. As he said, the Department is working on the draft of a clinical trial for the use of Ayurvedic drugs. Pradip Gyanwali, Chief of the Research Department, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, stressed the need for research for a clinical trial. As he said, Nepal recorded the first clinical trial for the vaccine against COVID-19. Remembering the formulation of criteria for a clinical trial while he was the member secretary of the Council, he echoed the need for its ef fective enforcement. Naheed Haque, from Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Nepal, pressed for the need of community approval for a clinical trial and to prevent its possible misuse. NHRC Ethical Review Board's Dr Diptesh Aryal called for making criteria for a clinical trial public and senior research officer Dr Meghnath Dhimal said the clinical trials that followed permission from the NHRC were in line with the research code of conduct. Source: National News Agency Nepal