Biomedical Research in Developing Countries - UNICRI

Figure 3. Percentages of responses to the three questions of the study in
the group of 42 analyzed countries
Table 4 (p. 149) shows the responses to each question by the 42 analyzed countries.
Table 5 (p. 150) lists the not analyzed countries. The information sheets of the 42
analyzed countries can be consulted at pp. 151-205.
CONCLUSIONS OF THIS SURVEY
Results in this study appear to be in line with the current literature. Like in other
studies, a negative correlation exists between the high percentage in the presence of
research ethics committees that review biomedical research with human
participants and the low percentage in the existence of a specific legislative
framework.
The high percentage of countries in Africa that still do not appear to have specific
legislation for the protection of human participants in biomedical research requires
special attention. The creation and strengthening of the legislative platform on
ethics and human rights of biomedical research should be set as a priority issue in
the agenda of those national governments in Africa that are still lacking the basic
provisions in this field.
In those countries where guidelines for good clinical practices have been developed,
corresponding legislation is needed to enforce them into law. In fact, when there is
a lack of specific legislation, guidelines are followed on a voluntary basis and
conflict of interest can easily arise. 24
In addition, results of studies that investigate the functioning of RECs, show that
even in those countries where adequate legislation exists, such as in South Africa,
24 Mudur G., India plans to audit clinical trials, 2005, BMJ 331:1044
145