Health Minister attends Specialised Workshop on Clinical Trials Awareness and Community Engagement

The Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care (TFSMC), in collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (ROCHE), officially launched a specialised workshop on Clinical Trials Awareness and Community Engagement this morning in Ebène. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, and the Junior Minister, Mrs Anishta Babooram.

The initiative stems from a landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed between the TFSMC and ROCHE. This strategic partnership establishes a framework for collaboration to conduct a gap analysis on clinical trials at the National Cancer Centre in Mauritius.

In his keynote address, Minister Bachoo underscored the critical role of rigorously conducted clinical trials in validating the efficacy, safety, risk profiles, and specific benefits of new medical treatments to drive reliable medical progress.

The Minister highlighted that by establishing a dedicated clinical trial system in Mauritius, the Government is taking a decisive step toward guaranteeing greater and more equitable access to advanced healthcare for local patients. To support this vision, the Government is setting up a Public Clinical Trial Unit within the TFSMC, alongside a National Trial Network designed to extend approved research opportunities across the entire public health system, he pointed out.

"This initiative extends beyond scientific research; it is fundamentally about equity, access, and the right of every patient to be considered for cutting-edge medical care," Minister Bachoo stated.

Furthermore, the Minister noted that pharmaceutical research has historically relied on overseas populations, stressing that Mauritius can no longer depend exclusively on clinical evidence generated abroad for its distinct, multiethnic population. He concluded that Mauritian patients must increasingly benefit from medical evidence that actively includes them, ensuring that future treatments accurately reflect the demographics of the population that will ultimately use them.

Prior to advancing the clinical trials gap analysis with ROCHE, Minister Bachoo affirmed that Mauritius must first evaluate the readiness of its hospitals, healthcare professionals, and national infrastructure to conduct trials safely, ethically, and efficiently. He moreover emphasised that a credible clinical trial ecosystem cannot be established by the Government, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies alone, but must be actively shaped by the voices, concerns, and lived experiences of patients and the wider public.

"Our ambition is clear: to build a system where medical research is scientifically rigorous, ethically sound, and anchored in the dignity, safety, and rights of every patient," Minister Bachoo reiterated.

The workshop

Patient representatives, members of Non-Governmental Organisations and the media participated in the workshop.

The initiative will help identify gaps at site, institutional and national levels. It will also help assign responsibilities and establish clear timelines for action. The expected outcomes include readiness assessments, the identification of workforce training requirements, and the formulation of immediate, 90-day, six-month and twelve-month priorities.

28 July 2026

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Topics: Health