The need for starting more educational institutions offering higher scope in clinical research courses was underlined by the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai University, N. Ramachandran.
Speaking after inaugurating the 15-day Staff Development Programme sponsored by the All India Council for Technical Education at the the Periyar College of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Girls here on Wednesday, Dr. Ramachandran said that India, by virtue of her large population, accounted for a good number of patients with different types of ailments such as cancer, HIV, diabetes and hypertension.
Pointing out that the clinical research formed the foundation for a proper analysis of the efficacy of new drugs being evolved by multi-national companies, he regretted that scarcity of clinical research professionals in the country had been responsible for the poor number of new drugs being tested in the country.
There was a strong case for starting clinical research courses across the country, he said pointing out that only 20,000 professionals would be available by the end of 2010 against the actual need for 50,000 research scholars.
In this context, he appreciated the endeavour taken by the Correspondent of the college, G. Sebastian and its Principal R. Senthamarai in starting an exclusive course on clinical research. Here too, only five students had sought admission to the course against the anticipated intake of 30 candidates.
Though there was shortage of institutions, India’s contribution in terms of quality clinical researches had been attracting the multi-national companies manufacturing the drugs. He also underlined the importance of application of e-skills in clinical research projects.
The Consultant Cardiologist from KMC Speciality Hospital, Tiruchi, S. Aravindakumar, in his key-note address, said that there was a growing awareness among the patients about the efficacy of drugs. Pointing out that several drug manufacturing companies, in their commercial competition, vied with one another in sponsoring new drugs for analysis, he called upon the students to realise their responsibility and ensure quality in their work.
