Abstract
The objective of the study is to study the mechanism of human subject protections focusing on ethics committee in central part of the Ministry of Public Health. The methodologies include literature review, questionaire, and indepth interview. The study revealed that most of Departments in the Ministry had established ethics committee, i.e., Ministry of Public Health, Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Department of Medical Service, Department of Disease Control, Department of Medical Science, Department of Mental Health and the Health System Research Institute. There are institutional ethics committee in Department of Medical Service, e.g., the National Neurological Institute and the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. Most of members of the committees acquainted with the international ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human. The composition of the committees are in line with international guidelines. Each committee have their own guidelines and standard operating procedures. Only one committee has been surveyed, evaluated, and recognized by SIDCER/ FERCAP Recognition Program, i.e., the Ethics Committee for Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Since the research is not the first priority of the Ministry of Public Health, there are some shortcomings that need consideration for correction and improvement. Most of medical and health journals have no policy for requirement of ethical clearance of the studies submitted for publication. Most of the ethics committee focussed only on preview of the protocol, no proactive activities on continuous review and site visit. Most of the committees review both scientific and ethical aspects meanwhile most members of the ethics committee have limited knowledge and experience in research on advance and complicated sciences. The supports of most committees are insufficient. The information technology are not fully used in most committees. Some committees have problems in timely review and may have doubt of independence in some cases.
