What is it? Why is it important?

Study insurance provides researchers with financial protection against damages as a result from study conduct; including financial compensation for participants should they suffer harm as a result.

 

Insurance:

  • Is required for all studies
  • Is either covered through a hospital insurance, or with an additional third-party insurance
  • Must cover any claims arising from a period for up to 10 years after study completion

 

The SP-INV of the study is responsible to provide:

  • Applicable study insurance, largely based on the overall risk of the study (e.g. safety data)
  • Financial compensations to study participants, including Site-INV(s) or its institution against claims arising from the study

 

Exceptions are claims that arise from Site-INV malpractice and/or negligence.

What do I need to do?

As a SP-INV, make yourself familiar with insurance requirements at your institution.

 

Address issues such as:

  • Does your hospital provide insurance that covers clinical studies? If not, you will have to acquire additional third-party insurance
  • Include in your Ethics Committee (EC) and regulatory authorities (e.g. Swissmedic, international) submission package a certificate of insurance which covers patients claims including patient injuries and damage to properties for the entire trial (e.g. third-party insurance certificate)

Where can I get help?

Your local CTU can support you with experienced staff regarding this topic

External Links

Swissethics – see in particular

  • Insurance template

References

ICH GCP E6(R2) – see in particular guidelines

  • 5.8.1 Insurance
  • 8.2.5 Essential documents

ISO 14155:2020 Medical devices  (access liable to cost) - see in particular section

  • 5.6.2. Ethics submission 

 

Declaration of Helsinki – see in particular principle

  • 15 Subject compensation

 

Swiss Law

HRA – see in particular articles

  • Art. 19 and 20 Coverage

ClinO – see in particular articles

  • Art. 13 Requirement for liability coverage
  • Art. 14 Protection of the injured party
  • Annex 3 Ethics application

HRO – see in particular article

  • Annex 2 Ethics application
Abbreviations
  • ClinO – Clinical Trials Ordinance
  • CTU – Clinical Trials Unit
  • EC – Ethics Committee
  • HRA – Human Research Act
  • HRO – Human Research Ordinance
  • ICH-GCP – International Council for Harmonisation - Good Clinical Practice
  • ISO – International Organization for Standardization
  • Site-INV – Site-Investigator
  • SP-INV – Sponsor-Investigator
Development ↦ Management ↦ Study Management ↦ Insurance
Study
Basic

Provides some background knowledge and basic definitions

Basic Protocol
Basic Statistics
Basic Monitoring
Basic Drug or Device
Concept

Starts with a study idea

Ends after having assessed and evaluated study feasibility

Concept Protocol
Concept Statistics
Concept Drug or Device
Development

Starts with confidence that the study is feasible

Ends after having received ethics and regulatory approval

Development Protocol
Development Statistics
Development Drug or Device
Set-Up

Starts with ethics and regulatory approval

Ends after successful study initiation

Set-Up Protocol
Set-Up Ethics and Laws
Set-Up Statistics
Set-Up Quality and Risk
Set-Up Drug or Device
Conduct

Starts with participant recruitment

Ends after the last participant has completed the last study visit

Conduct Protocol
Conduct Statistics
Conduct Drug or Device
Completion

Starts with last study visit completed

Ends after study publication and archiving

Completion Protocol
Completion Statistics
Completion Drug or Device
Current Path (click to copy): Development ↦ Management ↦ Study Management ↦ Insurance

Please note: the Easy-GCS tool is currently under construction.