The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidance to improve the design, conduct and oversight of clinical trials in countries of all income levels.
This guidance aims to support stronger country-led research and development (R&D) ecosystems to advance health science. It addresses challenges such as poor trial design, limited participant diversity, insufficient infrastructure and bureaucratic inefficiencies that cost time, money and lives.
The document includes practical considerations for setting up trials that include pregnant and lactating women, as they have special health needs. It also recommends putting patient, participant and community engagement at the heart of the way clinical trials are organised, to ensure that the planning, conduct and dissemination of research meets public needs and maintains trust. The guidance also seeks to strengthen national R&D ecosystems through sustainable funding to support better decision-making, accelerate access to health innovations and build a more robust and effective national and global health research environment.