Australian clinical trial win
March 30, 2012
PATIENTS have been granted
greater access to clinical trials,
following new investment by the
Government in the Australian New
Zealand Clinical Trial Registry.
The investment, announced
yesterday by the Minister for
Health, Tanya Plibersek, will see an
additional $2.9 million set aside
over the next five years to support
the administration of the National
Health and Medical Research Council
Clinical Trials Centre and the
expansion of the centre’s Australia
New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry.
“It is important that all
Australians who could benefit from
a trial are able to find out what is
available,” said Plibersek.
“There are many stories about
recovery, improved quality of life or
longer life from participating in a
clinical trial conducted in Australia,”
she added.
The expansion of the trial registry
will help Australians in remote and
regional locations access the latest
trial information, and will also make
it easier for them to enrol.
In addition, the funding will
enable the registry to cut down on
the duplication of trials, by
encouraging research collaboration.
MEANWHILE The investment
announcement has been described
as a “positive step in the right
direction” by Medicines Australia,
which cited figures showing that
between 2007 and 2012 Australia
suffered a 34% decline in the
number of new trials.
“Australia needs to take urgent
action to rectify this situation,” said
Medicines Australia CEO Dr
Brendan Shaw.
“That action includes finalising
the implementation of the
recommendations of the
Government’s Clinical Trials Action
Group,” he added.
Shaw backed up his argument for
the implementation of the
recommendations, by saying that
according to the Government’s own
estimates investment in clinical
trials saves Australian taxpayers
around $100 million each year in
hospital and PBS costs.
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