Bangalore, February, 6, 2012: Manipal Health Enterprises, a leading healthcare network of hospitals in India, has added another feather to its cap. The group’s hospitals have been awarded the accreditation by Association for Accreditation for Human Research Protection Program (AAHRPP) for standard practices in Clinical Research. Manipal Hospital, Bangalore and Kasturba Hospital, Manipal are the first Indian hospitals to be awarded AAHRPP in India.
At a Press Conference held in Bangalore today, Chief Guest, Honorable Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad presented the AAHRPP accreditation certificate to Mr. Rajen Padukone, CEO and Dr S C Nagendraswamy, president and chairman Quality Council, Manipal Health Enterprises.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Hospital, in presence of invited dignitaries, senior management staff and doctors, Mr Rajen Padukone, CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises said “This is a proud moment for us as we are the first hospital to receive the AAHRPP accreditation in India. It’s a great achievement and shows our commitment to ethical standards in protecting research participants while ensuring that society continues to reap the benefits of research. The AAHRPP will further strengthen our efforts to improve the quality of research in India.”
Speaking at the press conference Dr S C Nagendra Swamy, President and Chairman Quality Council, Manipal Health Enterprises said “From 100 trials in 2005 to 1000 in 2010, clinical trials have increased by leaps and bounds in India. Global CRO will touch $35 billion by 2015. India accounts for half a million USD of Global CRO market. 83 percent of clinical trials are based in developed countries but is slowly shifting towards developing countries (India/China/central and eastern Europe/Latin America) Lack of Transparency and reporting of outcomes are some of the major problems which hamper the growth of clinical trials.
The growth of clinical research in India will enhance the opportunity for clinicians to participate in much needed scientific growth and India will get a substantial economic advantage of this billion dollar opportunity.
Manipal Hospital is the 6th hospital in Asia to be conferred the AAHRPP accreditation. To earn this accreditation, we had to extensively demonstrate our safeguards in every level of research operation and our adhe rence to high ethical standards in research. Both these parameters were successfully fulfilled by the two hospitals of the group.
Dr Swamy adds that, “The enhanced clinical research opportunity will encourage reverse brain drain for many research inclined medical professionals from aboard and help our pool of clinicians to compete with the very best amongst their fraternity across the World”. A well established regulatory frame work with qualitative participation will ensure this in India's favor”.
The AAHRPP accreditation endorses hospitals which follow ethical and international quality standards in clinical research activities. The accreditation process is said to be rigorous and intense, which ensures safety and health of those who participate in research. To earn accreditation, organizations must provide tangible evidence-through policies, procedures, and practices—of their commitment to scientifically and ethically sound research and continuous improvement.
“Unfortunately India is a country which has the largest pool of patients suffering from cancer, diabetes and other maladies. This makes India a global hub for clinical trials, outsourced by other medically advanced countries. Hence protecting our trial subjects is of paramount importance. Given the poverty and illiteracy in our country, Indians are vulnerable to these malpractices. Therefore each institution/hospital should instill a strong Human Research Protection Program to safe guard the interests of their trial subjects said, Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Health Enterprises.
Dr Nagendraswamy S C, president and chairman of Quality Council of Manipal Health Enterprises, and Dr Pratibha Pereira, Dr K L Bairy along with Dr Pulgaonkar, medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital Manipal, led the way for the accreditation. The team was assisted by Principal Investigators, Research Center Staff and Support Staff of the hospitals and above all the Ethics committee of both the Hospitals.