For some years there has been a growing consensus around the World Health Organization that health research funders should require a summary statement of results 12 months after a clinical trial ends. Research registries in the WHO System ICTRP support the international consensus that scientific transparency underpinned by registration and reporting should be a legal and ethical obligation.
There are competing guidelines for summary statements of results. Would it be better for the WHO to aim for a precise template designed for clinical trials; or would it be better to aim for a broader more permissive approach that is compatible with other types of research that are relevant to public health and health care?