Project Syndicate: A Middle East Health Care Revolution
Bryan Spielman, executive vice president of Medidata

“…With the right policy mix and enough political will, the Middle East could become an important part of the world for health care research. In particular, it has a critical role to play regarding pharmaceutical clinical trials designed to investigate the influence of patients’ region of ancestry on the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of treatments. … Establishing [these efforts] in the Middle East will require collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, governments, and health care providers. … [B]y developing its ability to make medical advances, the region could become a world leader in deepening our understanding of the role of genetics in the safety and efficacy of medical treatments” (12/29).