Quick Dips

Clinical Trials Covered

The Government will provide no-fault insurance cover for people who are injured as a result of participating in a clinical trial, it was announced recently.

The Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act (ARCI) which came into effect last July excluded drug and clinical trials from ACC cover [Medical Research Threatened, November 1992]. This, said the Canterbury Area Health Board's professional advisor for medical services, Dr John Holmes, effectively excluded all medical research from cover.

Minister of Health Simon Upton said that the government plans to amend the act to cover clinical trials early this year. Until that time, no-fault insurance cover administered by the Department of Health will apply.

"Liability for cover for clinical trials will specifically exclude trials sponsored by drug companies for testing new or unregistered drugs. Drug companies sponsoring trials already offer participants no fault insurance cover," he noted.

"We are waiting with interest," said Holmes.