Research & NHRC Guidelines
NHRC Ethical Guidelines 2026: Mandatory Protocols for Health Research in Nepal
Essential checklist for Institutional Review Committee (IRC) clearance, informed consent in diverse linguistic populations, and data privacy for biomedical studies.
NHRC Ethics Advisory Committee · 4 min read
Ethical Imperatives in Health Research
The Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) serves as the apex national ethical regulatory body under the NHRC Act 2047. Any health-related research involving human subjects, epidemiological surveys, clinical trials, or genetic materials requires mandatory ethical approval.
Crucial Submission Checklist
- Proposal Clarity: Scientific rationale, study design (Cohort, Case-Control, Cross-Sectional, RCT), and sample size justification with statistical power calculation.
- Informed Consent Forms (ICF): Translated accurately into Nepali and local languages (Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang) ensuring clear comprehension for vulnerable communities.
- Material Transfer Agreement (MTA): Stringent legal verification when biological specimens are analyzed in laboratories outside Nepal.
- Vulnerable Population Safeguards: Minors, pregnant women, indigenous ethnic groups, and displaced populations require specialized ethical oversight.