Governing the Ethical Conduct of Health Research: A Systematic Model in the State of Qatar

Abstract

Learning ObjectivesQatar systematic model for governing the ethical conduct of health research in Qatar 2. The inclusion of core Islamic ethical principles in the current regulatory policies. 3. Promulgation of existing regulations into a health research Governance law. Qatar-Research In recent years, Qatar has placed a great emphasis on education and research. The country has embarked on an ambitious national research program to build a knowledge-based economy.Qatar-Research GovernanceThe Supreme Council of Health (“SCH”) has the highest authority in health care services and research governance. The mission of the Research Department (RD) at SCH is to ensure that research is carried out with the highest scientific and ethical standards in order to provide high quality research directed at improving the effectiveness and quality of health care. The Research Department at SCH has been successful in setting forth a research governance model to enable ethical and scientifically robust research practices, in protecting research participants through processes and guidelines, and in detecting research misconduct through systematic auditing SCH systematic model of research governance Establishment of Qatar National Research Ethics Committee (QNREC) Development of national policies and regulations Coducting an auditing program to ensure IRB compliance with SCH regulations Initiating a legislative act for human subject protection law Research Governance Challenges: Localization of regulations. The core Islamic ethical principles such as equity; consent; privacy; ownership; intervention; and public benefit, need to be embedded in the national health research's regulations and policies.ConclusionResearch regulation in Qatar overcomes the challenge of adapting international regulations by customizing its regulations according to cultural and religious concerns. Via stakeholder exchange mechanism, small-scale panels, and open public seminars, critical remarks have been raised and proposed plans for future actions have been established. A research governance law has been developed to implement the regulations and to ensure safety and wellbeing of research participants is in place.