KARACHI, Jan 17: The TDAP is striving to attract the business of clinical trial management as outsourcing research work by the multinational pharmaceutical companies is expected to touch $20 billion by 2010.

The business of contract research organisations (CROs) here is in its infancy, but holds a bright future, particularly when a large number of English-speaking physicians, with a network of high volume medical centres and low value of the rupee could make Pakistan an attractive venue.

Under the plan, seminars and workshops will be organised on “contract research — opportunities and challenges in Pakistan” by the TDAP, in collaboration with the ministry of health and the JPMC, to attract CRO business.

A pre-seminar meeting of selected pharmaceutical MNCs was held recently, with Mr Tariq Ikram, TDAP chief executive, in the chair.

Mr Ikram said the country holds immense opportunity in offering clinical trial management research contract.

He identified gap in our system and suggested steps to make the environment viable for foreign countries to invest in Pakistan in clinical research.

Mr Ikram assured the participants that the authority would take every possible measure to provide support in this area so that the government and MNCs jointly promote Pakistan’s potential in this field which in turn would enhance exports of our service sector.

During the meeting, participants endorsed the idea of organising seminars as it would assist in sharing knowledge, experience and observation and become instrumental in promoting clinical trial management in the country because CROs offer opportunities in enhancing healthcare facilities by conducing clinical research and data management as per world standards.

This would result in quality training of health-care providers and management of research in the country.

It was also brought to light that timely and adequate planning is required to promote and create awareness about the opportunities in this sector so as to create a niche for Pakistan in this business.

Finally a group was formulated to shape the structure of the seminar and workshop which includes Dr Rashid Jooma, executive director JPMC, Mujeeb Khan, head of WTO cell TDAP, Dr Yousuf Hassan Khan, chief executive officer of IRD, Khurrum Zaki Khan, chief executive, Metrics Research, Dr Murtaza Qasuri, medical director, Eli Lilly Pakistan, Dr Zainab Chagla, manager, medical services GlaxoSmothKline, Seema Khan, director, regulatory affairs and Dr Rauf Khan, medical director, Abbott Lab, Pakistan.