13/08/2026
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก-๐๐๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ-๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ | ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ฒ
WHO ACTION-III was a WHO-sponsored, multi-country, multi-centre, three-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial assessing two antenatal corticosteroid regimens versus placebo for women at high probability of late-preterm birth (34+0โ36+5 weeks), to improve newborn outcomes. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it involved 24 hospitals in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Recruitment concluded on 4 June 2026: 15,400 women globally. India was the highest-recruiting site with 3,292 women across five hospitals: KLES Hospital, Belagavi (587); KMCRI, Hubballi (1,488); PGIMER & Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar (475); WC Hospital affiliated to JJM Medical College, Davangere (503); RIMS, Raichur (239).
The close-out ceremony was held on 11 August 2026 at KMCRI, Hubballi, with WHO, ICMR, Government of Karnataka, FOGSI and Indian Academy of Pediatrics representatives, investigators, coordinators and research officers.
Dignitaries: Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG-ICMR & Secretary, DHR; Dr Ayesha Mariette De Costa, WHO Geneva; Dr Taruna Madan Gupta, ICMR; Dr Chander Shekhar, former ADG-ICMR & Consultant, Thomas Jefferson University/WCHRU-JNMC; Dr Ashish Jain, MAMC, New Delhi; Dr Rajkumar, Directorate of Radiation Safety, Bengaluru; Dr Tanu Anand, ICMR.
Investigators: Belagavi โ Dr Shivaprasad S Goudar, Dr S M Dhaded, Dr Yesh*ta Pujar, Dr Manjunath Somannavar, Dr Ramachandra Bhat, Dr Bhavana Koppad, Dr Shruti Andola, Dr Amaresh Patil. Hubballi โ Dr Ramalingappa Antaratani, Dr Kasturi Donimath, Dr Prakash Wari, Dr Vinod Ratageri, Dr Sahaja Kittur, Dr Yogendrakumar Kabade, Dr Sudindrashayan Fattehpur, Dr Laxmikant Lokare. Bhubaneswar โ Dr Sujata Misra, Dr Leena Das, Dr Sasmita Behuria, Dr Pusparaj Pradhan, Dr Babani Shankar Nayak. Davangere โ Dr Guruprasad Gowdar, Dr Lata, Dr Mahesh, Dr Sneharoopa Pujar, Dr Chaya Ashwath, Dr Sudha Moti. Raichur โ Dr Radha Sangavi, Dr Nasima Banu, Dr Anuja Sagamkunti, Dr Ramya Kinny, Dr Praveen Patil, Mr Dharamsingh Hajari.
All five teams received letters of appreciation from WHO for their invaluable contribution.