Role of policymakers, health researchers, and challenges in clinical drug trial and health policy: a review

The policymakers are essential in clinical trials, setting regulations, funding, and public access to trial outcomes. Involving all makes these trials safe, ethical and impacts more on population health decisions. In the USA, the FDA dictates trial rules, while in the UK, the NIHR funds and supports trials. India grapples with ethical issues in clinical trials although some recent efforts seem to ameliorate the plights of human subjects. This essay points out the existing vacuum in policy implementation and role of policymakers in revising the rules/policies for ethical clinical trials in India. Employing data visualisation instruments like Power Bi charts and graphs could bring these gaps to light which would lead to better understanding of the situation and eventually evidence-based policy changes.