European Journal of Public Health
Volume 24, Issue SUPPL.1, 2014, Pages 87-91

Overview on health research ethics in Egypt and North Africa (Review) (Open Access)

Marzouk D.* , Abd El Aal W. , Saleh A. , Sleem H. , Khyatti M. , Mazini L. , Hemminki K. , Anwar W.A.
  • a Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
  • b National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
  • c Theodor Bilharz Research Insitute, Giza, Egypt
  • d National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute Cairo, Egypt
  • e Laboratory of Oncovirology, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
  • f Laboratory of Oncovirology, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
  • g Division of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
  • h Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Developing countries, including Egypt and North African countries, need to improve their quality of research by enhancing international cooperation and exchanges of scientific information, as well as competing for obtaining international funds to support research activities. Research must comply with laws and other requirements for research that involves human subjects. The purpose of this article is to overview the status of health research ethics in Egypt and North African countries, with reference to other Middle Eastern countries. The EU and North African Migrants: Health and Health Systems project (EUNAM) has supported the revision of the status of health research ethics in Egypt and North African countries, by holding meetings and discussions to collect information about research ethics committees in Egypt, and revising the structure and guidelines of the committees, as well as reviewing the literature concerning ethics activities in the concerned countries. This overview has revealed that noticeable efforts have been made to regulate research ethics in certain countries in the Middle East. This can be seen in the new regulations, which contain the majority of protections mentioned in the international guidelines related to research ethics. For most of the internationally registered research ethics committees in North African countries, the composition and functionality reflect the international guidelines. There is growing awareness of research ethics in these countries, which extends to teaching efforts to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. © 2014 The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Biomedical Research medical research statistics and numerical data research ethics Ethics, Research international cooperation Humans Africa Ethics Committees, Research Developing Countries Africa, Northern developing country professional standard legislation and jurisprudence human Egypt ethics
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906223091&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fcku110&partnerID=40&md5=3158a0e1ab9804eeafc942d73aee4d17
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cku110
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English