Announcements

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		  
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...
 

Key modifications to enhance the user experience for both investigators and reviewers

  
Key modifications to enhance the user experience for both investigators and reviewers  
Posted: 2025-08-06 More...
 

“Ethical Clearance for Researches involving Human Subjects”

  

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.
The board meets in February, April, June, August, October, and December every year. All documents must reach the REBH secretariat at least two weeks before the scheduled meetings. Protocols that require to be reviewed by the full board shall be discussed during the above-mentioned regular board meeting. However, protocols should have been submitted to the REBH through BHRP two weeks before the board meeting dates.
Footnotes::

1. * The term “research” refers to a class of activity designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge through a systematic investigation. Generalizable knowledge consists of theories, principles or relationships, or the accumulation of information on which they are based, that can be corroborated by accepted scientific methods of observation and inference. In the present context “research” includes both medical and behavioural studies pertaining to human health.
2. ** Research involving human subjects includes:
1. studies of a physiological, biochemical or pathological process, or of the response to a specific intervention – whether physical, chemical or psychological – in healthy subjects or patients.
2. controlled trials of diagnostic, preventive or therapeutic measures in larger groups of persons, designed to demonstrate a specific generalizable response to these measures against a background of individual biological variation;
3. studies designed to determine the consequences for individuals and communities of specific preventive or therapeutic measures; and
4. studies concerning human health-related behaviour in a variety of circumstances and environments.
3. All related documents should be submitted as single file [e.g CV of all investigators should be submitted as a single file]

  
Posted: 2024-05-07
 

Launch of Bhutan Health Research Portal

  

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:
Henceforth, REBH and IRB will be using Bhutan Health Research Portal (BHRP) for ethical review of health-related research protocols.

For more information, please contact the REBH Secretariat at rebhsecretariat@gmail.com or IRB Secretariat at irbkgumsb@gmail.com

Thank you for you cooperation

_______________________________________________________________________________

  
Posted: 2024-03-29