The Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) (pactr.samrc.ac.za) is managed by Cochrane South Africa (Cochrane SA) at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). PACTR was established in early 2007 as the AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) Clinical Trials Registry. Since there was no registry on the continent that met the requirements of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) or WHO, in 2008 the African Vaccine and Regulatory Forum (AVAREF) supported by the WHO-AFRO office recommended that ATM expand its remit beyond its disease-specific scope. In June 2009, PACTR was born out of this expanded remit and the registry now accepts clinical trial applications pertaining to all diseases conducted in Africa. PACTR is the first and, at present, the only member of the Network of WHO Primary Registers (WHO-NPR) in Africa.

PACTR received start-up and sustainability funding from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCP)

PACTR registration fulfills the requirements of the ICMJE publication mandates and feeds information to the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). PACTR's status as a member of the WHO-NPR resulted from concerted efforts to develop a world-class registry that aligns with strict codes regarding data collection, auditing and management. These efforts have resulted in substantial knowledge and skills regarding WHO requirements for the maintenance of primary status.