Health Ministry Tightens Public Health Research Oversight with IRB Transition

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reminding researchers across Belize to follow the established process for submitting public health studies involving human participants, following an internal shift within the Ministry.  According to the Ministry, the Institutional Review Board, IRB, has now moved from under the Epidemiology Unit to the Office of Health Policy, Research and Planning, headed by Dr. Andrei Chell. While the requirement to submit research for ethical review has been in place for decades, officials say the notice serves as a timely reminder as the IRB transitions to its new administrative home.  The Ministry says the revised protocol submission and review process is part of its ongoing effort to strengthen research governance, ethical oversight, and public confidence in health-related studies conducted in Belize.  Effective March 1, all public health research involving human participants within the Ministry’s purview must be submitted through the MOHW IRB process. Researchers are required to provide a complete application package, including the IRB form, study protocol, and supporting documents.  Love News understands that the research referenced in the release spans a wide range of activities, from student research projects to broader data-gathering exercises, whether the findings are intended for publication or not.  Under the process, submissions first undergo administrative screening for completeness and eligibility, followed by formal IRB review, which the Ministry indicates may take approximately thirty working days, depending on the volume and complexity of applications.  Once approved, researchers may proceed with their studies but must report progress and submit a final report to the IRB prior to publication.  Health officials say the strengthened oversight framework reinforces the Ministry’s commitment to protecting research participants and maintaining high ethical standards in public health research nationwide.