Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) is poised to launch its own Institutional Review Board (IRB), overseeing medical research involving human subjects.
Currently, MRRH researchers rely on Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s (MUST) IRB, incurring approximately 50 dollars in clearance certificate fees. Additionally, researchers must submit their proposals to the Hospital Research and Scientific Committee for scientific merit review and approval.
However, during the fifth plenary meeting in the hospital boardroom, the hospital board chair, Dr. James Mugume, endorsed the establishment of an independent IRB.
Dr. Deus Twesigye, acting director, highlighted the benefits of an IRB, citing the hospital’s vibrant medical professionals and the potential for revenue generation.
Dr. Twesigye further stressed the significance of an IRB in reinforcing the hospital’s vision of excellence, as research and clinical management are inseparable.
Medics welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to attract grants, improve research oversight, and enhance patient safety.
Dr. Robert Wagubi, head of clinical laboratories, noted the IRB will enable the hospital to approve various types of research.
Dr. Joseph Opendi, dental clinic head, believes a reasonable research staff number, coupled with the IRB, will expedite approvals and encourage research.
Nicholas Nuwashaba, medical laboratory scientific officer, sees the IRB as a chance to strengthen ethical research oversight, ensuring patient safety and improving the quality of clinical and biomedical studies.
To establish the IRB, MRRH will submit a research ethics committee (REC) application to the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) for review and final approval.
The hospital’s administration has been urged to expedite the process, with Dr. Mugume applauding the management’s efforts while calling for cooperation. Despite the achievements, the hospital chairman was perturbed by the delays in the Emergency Call and Dispatch Center’s construction, valued at 2.8 billion shillings.
Francis Mugisha, head of accounts and finance, emphasized the need for innovative funding solutions to revamp infrastructure, citing increasing patient numbers and dilapidated structures.
Dr. Twesigye pledged to follow up on the concerned construction projects, noting the completion of the Oxygen Plant and Regional Incinerator. The oxygen plant has enabled the hospital to generate its own oxygen and reduce reliance on external supplies, as experienced at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing patient care for those in need of oxygen therapy.
Meanwhile, the regional incinerator is set to provide a safe and efficient means of disposing of hazardous medical waste, mitigating environmental and health risks.
About the Author:
Halson Kagure is the Communications Specialist and Public Relations Officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and other medical schools.
