Recently DoctorNDTV conducted a survey on whether the government of India should have made it easier for foreign pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials of new drugs in India. The survey questioned whether the subjects would be adequately protected, whether they would be able to understand informed consent and compensated for any untoward effects of the drugs being studied.

The results have been mixed. The majority (87%) of people felt that compensation should be provided to people who suffered adverse effects during these trials. Sixty-five per cent felt that drugs relevant to Indian diseases would be studied but strangely, 49% felt that it would be unethical to conduct such trials here.

Sixty-five also felt that these trials could not be conducted without giving incentives to doctors and patients. It was generally felt that these trials would help improve the healthcare facilities in this country.