Question NW624 to the Minister of Health
20 March 2024 - NW624
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health
In light of the concerning revelations surrounding corporate funding of health research in academic institutions, what collaborative mechanisms does his department have in place with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to ensure that there is transparency and integrity in health research funding in the Republic’s institutions of higher learning?
Reply:
The National Department of Health (NDoH) collaborates with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation through the National Health Research Committee (NHRC). NHRC is an NDoH Ministerial Advisory statutory body established in terms of National Health Act of 2003. It responsible for determining the nature, scope, as well as the co-ordination of health research. NHRC is made up of researchers and representative of various academic institutions.
It is a prerequisite that all health research proposals and protocols are reviewed and approved by the health research ethics committee which is registered with the National Health Ethics Council (NHREC) to ensure transparency and integrity of health research. The NHREC is mandated by the Health Act of 2003 to develop guidelines for institutional research ethics committees (IRECs), register and audit IRECs, advise the department of health on all research ethics matters, and adjudicate complains about health research ethics committees.
END.