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Research Policy and Cooperation |
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The critical role of ethical practices in health care and research is not only well recognized to ensure equity in health care and research, but also is important to protect individuals and communities from unnecessary risks and harm. Given the regional social, cultural and religious norms, the Region must have its own set of guidelines and regulations so that the people of the Member States can draw upon and define codes of ethical practice. This has been stated explicitly by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office on several occasions and at policy level by the Regional Committee, the Regional Consultative Committee and the Eastern Mediterranean Advisory Committee for Health Research. Many countries have long been developing a core ethical framework for health care and research ethics. The overall direction of this development has been within the context of religious, social and cultural practices in the Region, while at the same time embracing the ethical values and principles of other nations that are not in conflict with the local value systems. The Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences (IOMS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are the two leading entities currently at the forefront of advocacy and increasing awareness for the need for developing ethical review mechanisms in the Region. Recently, the Organization of Islamic Conference Standing Committee for Science and Technology (COMSTECH) based in Islamabad, Pakistan established an Advisory Committee for Bioethics with members from different Islamic countries. The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has also been actively promoting ethical norms and values in the Region. Several countries in the Region have already developed capacities in health ethics, with properly instituted review and regulation processes in place. Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan and Yemen have created national ethical review committees (ERCs), while Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, have institutional ERCs, which also double as national ERCs. Most regional ERCs follow WHO published guidelines on ethics in health care and research, but other guidelines like the Helsinki Declaration, and the Nuremberg Code are also being used by some ERCs. Egypt and Islamic Republic of Iran have prepared their own national guidelines for ethics in health and Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Sudan are in the process of developing their own national guidelines. Formal long term (degree oriented) training programmes on ethics in health research ethics do not exist at present but informal short-term training is imparted at universities / organizations in Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The focus of the WHO's drive to strengthen regional bioethics capacities is through advocacy consultations, meetings, seminars, workshops and research through national and regional level activities and in partnership with interested stakeholders. |
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