The Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) has been established under the Ministry of Health to protect human participants involved in research conducted in Bhutan. All individuals or institutions conducting health-related research in Bhutan involving human subjects must obtain ethical approval from the REBH or an Institutional Review Board (IRB) recognized by the REBH prior to commencing the research. The Board convenes in February, April, June, August, October, and December each year. Submissions are accepted 24/7 through the online system, and full-board review protocols must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting.
Research participants may lodge complaints regarding studies conducted in Bhutan through the following link: Click here to submit a complaint, or by contacting the REBH Member Secretary at rebhsecretary@gmail.com or +975 17920280 (WhatsApp)
Ethics Review Committee Members
Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH)
REBH Secretary Email: rebhsecretary@gmail.com
Role:Secretary
Ms Tshering Choden Email: tsheringc@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Ms Sangay Zangmo Email: szangmo@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Ms Sonam Wangmo Email: sonamwangmo.ovc@rub.edu.bt
Role:Member
Dr Choki Dorji Email: chokidorji_bkk@outlook.com
Role:Member
Mr Sangay Chophel Email: schophel@bhutanstudies.org.bt
Role:Member
Mr Sonam Wangdi Email: sonamwangdi@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Dr Chhabi Adhikari Email: cladhikari@kgumsb.edu.bt
Role:Chair
Dr. Kuenzang Chhezom Email: kchhezom@gmail.com
Role:Member
Mr Sonam Wangdi Email: sonamwangdye@gmail.com
Role:Member
Mr. Zimba Letho Email: zimba.letho@fnph.edu.bt
Role:Member
Mr Hari Pokhrel Email: hppokhrel@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Dr Namkha Dorji Email: namji2002@gmail.com
Role:Member
Dr Thinley Dorji Email: thinleydorji@nms.gov.bt
Role:Member
Dr Tshokey Tshokey Email: doc_tshokey@yahoo.com
Role:Member
Ms. Pema Choden Email: pemachoden@fnph.edu.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Jamyang Dorji Email: jamyesdor@kgumsb.edu.bt
Role:Member
Ms Roma Karki Email: rkarki@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
KGUMSB Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Mr Tshering JAMTSHO Email: irbkgumsb@gmail.com
Role:Secretary
Mr. Kinley Dorjee Email: kuenleg32@gmail.com
Role:Secretary
Mr Cheku Dorji Email: cheku.bhutan@gmail.com
Role:Vice Chair
Mr Tashi Norbu Email: tashinorbu@kgumsb.edu.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Kunzang Dorji Email: kunzangdorji@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Dawa Gyeltshen Email: dagyel143@gmail.com
Role:Member
Mrs Tshering Dema Email: tdema@jdwnrh.gov.bt
Role:Member
Mr Wangchuk Wangchuk Email: wangchuk@fnph.edu.bt
Role:Member
M. Tshering Nidup Email: tnidup@health.gov.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Sonam Phuntsho Email: sonam.p@kgumsb.edu.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Zimba Letho Email: zimba.letho@fnph.edu.bt
Role:Chair
Ms Sonam Wangmo Email: sonamwangmo.ovc@rub.edu.bt
Role:Member
Mr. Kinley Dorjee Email: kuenleg32@gmail.com
Role:Member
Announcements
Strengthening Ethical Compliance, Transparency, and Coordination in Health-Related Research |
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| Health-related research, surveys, program evaluations, and operational studies contribute significantly to evidence-based health policy and service delivery. With increasing research activities conducted by government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and independent researchers, it is necessary to strengthen ethical compliance, transparency, and coordination for health-related research conducted in Bhutan in line with national and international best practices. The Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) serves as the national independent body responsible for the ethical review and oversight of health research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials in Bhutan in line with the National Health Policy 2011. The Health Information and Research Division (HIRD) provides secretariat support to the REBH. The Ministry of Health has established the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP) as the online national platform for ethics review management and research registration, and to facilitate public access to approved research protocols and reviewed study summary reports. To further strengthen ethical compliance and transparency in health-related research, the Ministry of Health hereby issues the following directives: 1. Researchers conducting health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall provide evidence of research ethics training completed within five (5) years prior to undertaking such research. 2. All such research conducted in Bhutan shall obtain ethical approval prior to the commencement of data collection or study implementation. No health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall be conducted without a valid ethics approval issued through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP). 3. Subsequently, REBH shall ensure that essential information on all approved protocols and study summary reports, including those approved by IRBs, is publicly accessible through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP), subject to applicable confidentiality requirements. 4. Publications arising from health-related research conducted in Bhutan shall cite the BHRP approval (registration) number issued for the study. 5. All IRBs operating in Bhutan including REBH shall observe the principle of mutual recognition of ethics review decisions, while respecting institutional jurisdictions, avoiding duplication, and facilitating communication. 6. REBH shall establish and maintain a system for all the IRBs in Bhutan to ensure quality and compliance with accepted standards for IRBs. (Pemba Wangchuk) Health Secretary |
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| Posted: 2026-03-25 | More... |
Strengthening Ethical Compliance, Transparency, and Coordination in Health-Related Research |
|
| Health-related research, surveys, program evaluations, and operational studies contribute significantly to evidence-based health policy and service delivery. With increasing research activities conducted by government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and independent researchers, it is necessary to strengthen ethical compliance, transparency, and coordination for health-related research conducted in Bhutan in line with national and international best practices. The Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) serves as the national independent body responsible for the ethical review and oversight of health research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials in Bhutan in line with the National Health Policy 2011. The Health Information and Research Division (HIRD) provides secretariat support to the REBH. The Ministry of Health has established the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP) as the online national platform for ethics review management and research registration, and to facilitate public access to approved research protocols and reviewed study summary reports. To further strengthen ethical compliance and transparency in health-related research, the Ministry of Health hereby issues the following directives: 1. Researchers conducting health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall provide evidence of research ethics training completed within five (5) years prior to undertaking such research. 2. All such research conducted in Bhutan shall obtain ethical approval prior to the commencement of data collection or study implementation. No health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall be conducted without a valid ethics approval issued through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP). 3. Subsequently, REBH shall ensure that essential information on all approved protocols and study summary reports, including those approved by IRBs, is publicly accessible through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP), subject to applicable confidentiality requirements. 4. Publications arising from health-related research conducted in Bhutan shall cite the BHRP approval (registration) number issued for the study. 5. All IRBs operating in Bhutan including REBH shall observe the principle of mutual recognition of ethics review decisions, while respecting institutional jurisdictions, avoiding duplication, and facilitating communication. 6. REBH shall establish and maintain a system for all the IRBs in Bhutan to ensure quality and compliance with accepted standards for IRBs. (Pemba Wangchuk) Health Secretary |
|
| Posted: 2026-03-25 | More... |
Strengthening Ethical Compliance, Transparency, and Coordination in Health-Related Research |
|
| Health-related research, surveys, program evaluations, and operational studies contribute significantly to evidence-based health policy and service delivery. With increasing research activities conducted by government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and independent researchers, it is necessary to strengthen ethical compliance, transparency, and coordination for health-related research conducted in Bhutan in line with national and international best practices. The Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) serves as the national independent body responsible for the ethical review and oversight of health research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials in Bhutan in line with the National Health Policy 2011. The Health Information and Research Division (HIRD) provides secretariat support to the REBH. The Ministry of Health has established the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP) as the online national platform for ethics review management and research registration, and to facilitate public access to approved research protocols and reviewed study summary reports. To further strengthen ethical compliance and transparency in health-related research, the Ministry of Health hereby issues the following directives: 1. Researchers conducting health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall provide evidence of research ethics training completed within five (5) years prior to undertaking such research. 2. All such research conducted in Bhutan shall obtain ethical approval prior to the commencement of data collection or study implementation. No health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall be conducted without a valid ethics approval issued through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP). 3. Subsequently, REBH shall ensure that essential information on all approved protocols and study summary reports, including those approved by IRBs, is publicly accessible through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP), subject to applicable confidentiality requirements. 4. Publications arising from health-related research conducted in Bhutan shall cite the BHRP approval (registration) number issued for the study. 5. All IRBs operating in Bhutan including REBH shall observe the principle of mutual recognition of ethics review decisions, while respecting institutional jurisdictions, avoiding duplication, and facilitating communication. 6. REBH shall establish and maintain a system for all the IRBs in Bhutan to ensure quality and compliance with accepted standards for IRBs. (Pemba Wangchuk) Health Secretary |
|
| Posted: 2026-03-25 | More... |
Strengthening Ethical Compliance, Transparency, and Coordination in Health-Related Research |
|
| Health-related research, surveys, program evaluations, and operational studies contribute significantly to evidence-based health policy and service delivery. With increasing research activities conducted by government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and independent researchers, it is necessary to strengthen ethical compliance, transparency, and coordination for health-related research conducted in Bhutan in line with national and international best practices. The Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) serves as the national independent body responsible for the ethical review and oversight of health research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials in Bhutan in line with the National Health Policy 2011. The Health Information and Research Division (HIRD) provides secretariat support to the REBH. The Ministry of Health has established the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP) as the online national platform for ethics review management and research registration, and to facilitate public access to approved research protocols and reviewed study summary reports. To further strengthen ethical compliance and transparency in health-related research, the Ministry of Health hereby issues the following directives: 1. Researchers conducting health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall provide evidence of research ethics training completed within five (5) years prior to undertaking such research. 2. All such research conducted in Bhutan shall obtain ethical approval prior to the commencement of data collection or study implementation. No health-related research involving human participants, identifiable health data, or human biological materials shall be conducted without a valid ethics approval issued through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP). 3. Subsequently, REBH shall ensure that essential information on all approved protocols and study summary reports, including those approved by IRBs, is publicly accessible through the Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP), subject to applicable confidentiality requirements. 4. Publications arising from health-related research conducted in Bhutan shall cite the BHRP approval (registration) number issued for the study. 5. All IRBs operating in Bhutan including REBH shall observe the principle of mutual recognition of ethics review decisions, while respecting institutional jurisdictions, avoiding duplication, and facilitating communication. 6. REBH shall establish and maintain a system for all the IRBs in Bhutan to ensure quality and compliance with accepted standards for IRBs. (Pemba Wangchuk) Health Secretary |
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| Posted: 2026-03-25 | More... |
Key modifications to enhance the user experience for both investigators and reviewers |
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| Key modifications to enhance the user experience for both investigators and reviewers | |
| Posted: 2025-08-06 | More... |
“Ethical Clearance for Researches involving Human Subjects” |
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Research Ethics Board of Health (REBH) has been formed in the Ministry of Health to protect human subjects in any research or study. Henceforth, all those conducting any health-related research*/study in Bhutan involving human subjects** must obtain Ethical Approval from REBH before conducting the research/study. Any health-related research/study done without Ethical Approval will be nullified or will not be possible to publish or present anywhere or REBH may act in the interest of the human subjects. |
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| Posted: 2024-05-07 | |
Launch of Bhutan Health Research Portal |
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This Bhutan Health Research Portal was lauched on April 9th, 2024 by Hon'ble Health Secretary. It marks a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare through strengthening of health research system in Bhutan. The pivotal features of the portal are its web-based ethical review system and a national health research registry which bring a much-needed efficiency, transparency and accountabiliy in research governance. The system was developed with support of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Important Note:
For more information, please contact the REBH Secretariat at rebhsecretariat@gmail.com or IRB Secretariat at irbkgumsb@gmail.com
Thank you for you cooperation _______________________________________________________________________________ |
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| Posted: 2024-03-29 | |
| More Announcements... |