WNAM REPORT: OIC- COMSTECH, in collaboration with the Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB) and Institute of Innovation Leadership in Medicine & Management on Tuesday organized an international workshop on Clinical Research in Resource-Constrained Environments at its Secretariat in Islamabad.
The workshop aimed to train healthcare professionals and researchers in conducting clinical research in low-resource settings, identifying training needs, and establishing clinical research centres within their institutions.
In his message, Coordinator General OIC- COMSTECH Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary welcomed participants and stressed the importance of collaboration. He noted that healthcare providers and researchers in many OIC member states face limited infrastructure, funding shortages, and a lack of trained personnel. “These same constraints make innovation, ingenuity, and capacity building more essential than ever,” he said.
Prof Dr Abdul Basit, Chairman HealthRAB, in his address underlined the pressing need for institutional capacity in clinical research. He emphasised that resource limitations should not become barriers to quality healthcare and evidence-based practice. “Even in constrained environments, we can build centres of excellence through collaboration, commitment, and innovation,” he remarked.
Prof Dr Zakiuddin Ahmed , General Secretary HealthRAB, introduced HealthRAB’s mission and said the organisation, in collaboration with COMSTECH, would continue to organise workshops and conferences to build healthcare leadership and research capacity.
The programme included group activities, discussions on establishing research centres in resource-constrained settings, and an interactive session.
A panel discussion on developing a health research ecosystem through collaboration featured Dr Samina Naeem Khalid، Professor and Researcher at the Health Services Academy Islamabad.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks, with participants both in person and online appreciating the initiative and its practical insights for advancing clinical research in challenging environments.
