What is IHEC ?

INTO Institutional Human Ethical Committee are multidisciplinary and multisectorial bodies generally comprising of 8-12 members depending on the institutional requirements. IHEC provides advice to the researchers of all ethical aspects of the project proposals received by it in objective manner. The objective of constituting IHEC is to monitor ethical conductance of research on all aspects of the welfare and safety of the research participants after ensuring the scientific soundness of the proposed research through appropriate Scientific Review Committee. IHEC committee ensures technical appropriateness of the proposed studies.

COMPOSITION

The composition of the present IHEC members, according to the ICMR guidelines, is as follows: -

As per revised Schedule Y of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, amended in 2005, the ethics committee approving drug trials should have in the quorum at least one representative from the following groups:

• Chairperson
• One - two persons from basic medical science area
• One - two clinicians from various Institutes
• One legal expert or retired judge
• One social scientist/ representative of non-governmental voluntary agency
• One philosopher/ ethicist/ theologian
• One layperson from the community
• Member Secretary

The Ethics Committee (EC) can have as its members, individuals from other institutions or communities with adequate representation of age and gender to safeguard the interests and welfare of all sections of the community/society. If required, subject experts could be invited to offer their views, for instance, a pediatrician for pediatric conditions, a cardiologist for cardiac disorders etc. Similarly, based on the requirement of the research area, for example, HIV, genetic disorders etc. it is desirable to include a member from specific patient groups in the Committee.