Protecting participants in health research : the South African material transfer agreement

The need to transfer human biological materials (HBMs) across national boundaries has become increasingly important in view of increased biobank and commercial activities globally. In light of South Africa (SA)’s history of colonisation and racial discrimination, coupled with well-known instances of exploitation of research participants in the developing world, it is critical that the management of HBMs from and to other jurisdictions is explored and regulated. Material transfer agreements (MTAs) represent an important point of departure in such a process. This article explores the need for a uniform MTA in SA and discusses some aspects of the recently gazetted national MTA, which provides a framework that can serve as a safeguard for cross-border transfer of HBMs in the absence of the National Health Act’s chapter 8 regulations in this regard.

Description

CITATION: Labuschaigne, M. et al. 2019. Protecting participants in health research: The South African Material Transfer Agreement. South African Medical Journal, 109(5):353-356. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2019.v109i5.13803
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/index

Keywords

Research participants -- Civil rights -- South Africa, Material transfer agreement -- South Africa -- 2018, Human biological material -- Research -- Law and legislation -- South Africa, Biological specimens -- Research Law and legislation -- South Africa, Medicine -- Research -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa, South Africa. National Health Act, 2003

Citation

Labuschaigne, M. et al. 2019. Protecting participants in health research: The South African Material Transfer Agreement. South African Medical Journal, 109(5):353-356. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2019.v109i5.13803

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123386

Collections

Research Articles (Centre for Medical Ethics and Law)

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