In a major shift in health research policy, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is pushing for large-scale, multi-centre clinical trials to generate India-specific evidence for the treatment of lifestyle and chronic diseases. The move aims to reduce dependence on clinical data from Western countries, which experts say may not always be relevant for Indian patients.
The initiative will focus on major non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and cancer, which affect millions across the country. Health professionals have long flagged that treatments proven effective in Western populations often show different outcomes in India due to factors such as genetic diversity, dietary patterns, climate, and distinct disease trends.
Under the proposed framework, networks of at least five hospitals will work together to evaluate treatment strategies, medical procedures, digital health tools and lifestyle interventions in real-world Indian settings. The objective is to identify therapies that are not only clinically effective but also cost-efficient for government hospitals and public health programmes.
