ETHICAL REVIEW OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IN BELARUS: CURRENT STATUS, PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

Area of Science:

• Biomedical research ethics
• Public health policy
• Central and Eastern European research systems

Background:

• The paper examines the ethical review system for biomedical research in Belarus.
• It highlights the historical, legal, and regulatory context.
• The functioning and structure of the system are detailed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the ethical review system in Belarus.
• To identify challenges and limitations within the system.
• To provide recommendations for improvement.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the Belarusian ethical review system.
• Review of historical, legal, and regulatory documents.
• Identification of systemic issues based on observed practices.

Main Results:

• Belarus's system mirrors a bureaucratic approach seen in other Eastern European nations.
• Socio-economic and political transition factors impact the capacity of Research Ethics Committees (RECs).
• Key issues include inconsistent review stringency, lack of REC independence, and insufficient ethics education.

Conclusions:

• The Belarusian system faces challenges in adequately protecting human subjects.
• Recommendations focus on elevating research ethics nationally.
• A robust system is needed to ensure participant protection and ethical research conduct.