Clinical trials landscape in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is an ideal destination for the global clinical trial industry due to its favorable national policies, growing economy, and rapid digitalization directly influencing the increasing global market size of clinical trials. Its comprehensive primary health care coverage, educated population, free standard of care, non-communicable disease burden equals to western countries, qualified medical practitioners, and a core of competent and committed clinical researchers combined with its population’s proficiency in English also make this South Asian nation a potentially excellent regional clinical trials destination. Making an environment favorable to research partnership while guaranteeing the safe and ethical conduct of clinical trials has been a repetitive subject for conversation and discussion in the nation. A robust regulatory framework and ethical reviewing process have minimized legal loopholes ensuring the rights, safety, and well-being of trial participants that are protected. The Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry is a non-revenue driven registry and it can be considered a key stimulus to the ongoing discussions on clinical trials in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the adoption of new technology in clinical research and the rise of the pharmaceutical industry encourages and creates opportunities for more clinical trials to be conducted in Sri Lanka which, in turn, influences the growth of the industry.