| dc.description.abstract | Background:
The increasing emphasis on research, development and innovation for health in providing solutions
to the high burden of diseases in the African Region has warranted a proliferation of studies including clinical trials.
This changing public health landscape requires that countries develop adequate ethics review capacities to protect
and minimize risks to study participants. Therefore, this study assessed the readiness of national ethics committees
to respond to challenges posed by a globalized biomedical research system which is constantly challenged by new
public health threats, rapid scientific and technological advancements affecting biomedical research and development,
delivery and manufacture of vaccines and therapies, and health technology transfer.
Methods:
This is a descriptive study, which used a questionnaire structured to elicit information on the existence of
relevant national legal frameworks, mechanisms for ethical review; as well as capacity requirements for national ethics
committees. The questionnaire was available in English and French and was sent to 41 of the then 46 Member States
of the WHO African Region, excluding the five Lusophone Member States. Information was gathered from senior
officials in ministries of health, who by virtue of their offices were considered to have expert knowledge of research
ethics review systems in their respective countries.
Results:
Thirty three of the 41 countries (80.5 %) responded. Thirty (90.9 %) of respondent countries had a national
ethics review committee (NEC); 79 % of which were established by law. Twenty-five (83.3 %) NECs had secretarial and
administrative support. Over 50 % of countries with NECs indicated a need for capacity strengthening through periodic
training on international guidelines for health research (including clinical trials) ethics; and allocation of funds for
administrative and secretariat support.
Conclusions:
Despite the existing training initiatives, the Region still experiences a shortage of professionals trained in health research ethics/ethicists. Committees continue to face various capacity needs especially for evaluating clinical trials, for monitoring ongoing research, database management and for accrediting institutional ethics committees. Given the growing number of clinical trials involving human participants in the African Region, there is urgent need for supporting countries without NECs to establish them; capacity strengthening where they exist; and creation of a regional network and joint ethical review mechanisms, whose membership would be open to all NECs of the Region. | en_US |
