The Institutional Ethics committee

The Kintampo Health Research Centre Institutional Ethics Committee (KHRCIEC) was born on 18th October 2004. Highlights of the birth included a very well attended, colorful inauguration ceremony at the centre’s premises. A special feature of the inauguration ceremony was the presence of the seasoned IEC administrator from the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC), Ms. Paulina Tindana. She gave members an orientation into the activities of Ethics committees.

The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) as an important unit within the Ministry of Health has the responsibility of contributing to the improvement of the health status of all people in Ghana and the middle sector in particular through appropriate research activities.

As an independent representative body set up to review, evaluate and decide on the ethical merits of the KHRC research protocols, the IEC is committed to ensuring and guaranteeing the rights, dignity, safety and protection of all individuals and communities who participate in KHRC research activities.

The KHRC IEC is responsible for reviewing various field and clinical trials involving the use of human beings, ranging from local data-gathering protocols to clinical practices outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, ICH Good Clinical Practices, Belmont Report, CIOMS guideline and any other applicable regulations and guidelines.

The KHRC-IEC though still at a very infant stage has gotten on to a high gear in its operations. Barely a month after its inception, the group met up to review procedures as contained in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) that was adopted from the NHRC-IRB. There was a clear manifestation of zeal and purposefulness as members painstakingly went through the document page by page, just to make sure the tool that is supposed to guide the IEC in its operations is standard.

Following this first very important activity, the committee by way of practice, challenged its readiness in carrying out its mandate through a mock review of a research protocol that had already passed ethics approval. Members had the opportunity to carry out this mock review on two of such protocols. It was clearly evident from the mock review activity that members were, ‘combat ready’. This first indicator of the success trail of the committee was immediately recognized by the director of the Institution (member of the IEC), by a comment he passed when the administrator encountered him in his office. He had missed out on a few of our meetings due to pressure of work, but followed very closely the activities of the group through the minutes captured in meetings. It was after reading one of such minutes that he passed this comment: ‘I am impressed with the out put of the group even in our infant stage’.

The committee’s initial display of focus and resilience has been attributed to the kind of unblemished leadership that is in play. The chairman of the committee, though very busy in his other schedules (Tutoring at RHTS), has always steered every meeting with distinction and his words of encouragement to members have impacted positively on the activities of the IEC.

For those interested in figures, the committee since its inception successfully reviewed and granted ethical approval to five (5) protocols; 3 of which are clinical trials.

The committee, though making some modest achievements would require some training to sharpen the skills of members. The Director has in many meetings indicated his plans to get members trained. It is the yearning hope of the committee that 2005 and the years ahead would present members the opportunity to get some training in ethics work.

In conclusion, KHRCIEC wishes to reiterate that it is there to serve the needs of researchers whiles working with them closely to protect the dignity, rights, safety and lives of all research participants. KHRCIEC has no intention whatsoever to put impediments, bottlenecks or hitches in the progress of any researcher. On the contrary, we wholeheartedly welcome researchers to KHRC.