Articles

The Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) conducted a seminar-workshop on Ethics in Health Research for Region 12 and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) last November 12, 2009 at the EMR Center in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The seminar-workshop aims to contribute to the development of a national and professional research ethics review system and promote the role of Ethics Review Board (ERB)/ Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) in research involving human participants.

Dr. Marita V.T. Reyes, chair of PHREB, emphasized the importance of ethics in research, “Research ethics is a way of thinking. It is about our responsibilities to one another in a research environment/context. It is about respect, truthfulness, caring and collaboration.”

Dr. Reyes also explained the value of the ethics guidelines in ensuring quality and consistency in the ethical review of health research involving humans. “The guidelines strengthen institutional capacity for ethical review, protect credibility of ERCs, and ensure independence from political, institutional, professional and market influences.”

In the 1974 Belmont Report, four ethical principles were identified: 1) respect for persons, 2) beneficence, 3) non-maleficence and 4) justice. Respect for persons pertains to autonomy (“informed consent”), truth telling, confidentiality and fidelity. Beneficence is balancing the benefits and harms of the research. Non-maleficence involves risk assessment and management while justice speaks of fairness and equal treatment of research participants.

Authorship and peer review are both crucial in the research process. In her presentation, Dr. Reyes stated that, “Authorship reflects the integrity and significance of research and science. Peer review, on the other hand, allows for maintenance of standards in research and contributes to the reliability and credibility of research. Both authorship and peer review must be guided by ethical standards.”

In regard Research Ethics Review Committees (RERCs), Dr. Cecilia Tomas, Chair of PHREB’s Subcommittee on Accreditation, emphasized that ethics committees in research safeguards the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of all actual or potential research participants. RERCs have six essential functions: 1) evaluate the conduct of research in accordance with international and national local laws; standards of professional conduct and practice; and community mores, values, and needs;  2) promote research integrity by identifying and resolving conflicts of interest; 3) establish appropriate mechanisms in all stages of the research; 4) report to the institutional or national authorities any matter that affects the conduct and ethics of research; 5) keep a systematic and organized record of all proposals reviewed; and 6) submit an annual report to the PHREB.

Ms. Merlita Opeña, Chief of the Research Information, Communication and Utilization Program of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), gave a presentation about the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), and the importance of regional health research systems. She gave the background of the research community in which ethics is a key component.

*This event is organized in collaboration with Unilab Medical Education and Development (UMED) and DOST Region 12 and ARMM. The next seminar-workshop will be held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on November 24-25, 2009.