Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10532)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10532 is the "Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013."
The policy of the State is to protect and promote the right to health of the people, instill health consciousness among them, and improve the quality of life of every Filipino through health research and development initiatives.
Health is defined as a state of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being and the ability to function at the individual level.
PNHRS is a framework anchored on the principles of Essential National Health Research on inclusiveness, participation, quality, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness, connecting to and converging with the wider health, economic, political, educational, and science and technology systems of the country.
The PCHRD serves as the national coordinating body for health research and provides central direction, leadership, and coordination in health science and technology.
The PNHRS Governing Council is composed of: the Secretary of the DOST (Chair), the Secretary of the DOH (Co-Chair), the Chair of the Commission on Higher Education, the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Manila, the National Nutrition Council Executive Director, the PCHRD Executive Director, and five representatives from the private sector.
The PNHRS aims to: (a) ensure health research is linked to health system needs; (b) ensure investments in health research yield the most benefit; (c) promote good governance in health research organizations; (d) engage in national and international partnerships for health research development; and (e) ensure sustainability of resources for health research.
The Governing Council sets policies and directions for the PNHRS, reviews and approves long-term plans and programs, evaluates and approves the National Unified Health Research Agenda, reviews and approves research programs, and creates committees as needed.
The PHREB ensures adherence to universal principles for the protection of human participants in research. It formulates guidelines for ethical conduct, develops standards for ethics review committees, monitors institutional ethics review committees, promotes ethics committees' establishment, provides advice on ethical issues in human health research, initiates discourse on ethics, and networks with relevant organizations.
Through the establishment of Regional Health Research Systems which mirror the PNHRS framework at the regional level. These regional consortia address health research agenda, human resource development, conduct of research, dissemination of results, research utilization, resource mobilization, and management.
The Steering Committee is headed by the PCHRD Executive Director and includes directors or representatives from DOH-HPDPB, CHED-OPPRI, UPM-NIH, NEDA, PHREB Chair, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, National Statistics Office, Professional Regulation Commission, DOTC-LTO, DENR-EMB, LGUs, and the chairpersons of relevant PNHRS Technical Working Committees.
Regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms shall be conducted by the Governing Council through the Secretariat to determine accountabilities. Specifics of monitoring, evaluation, accountabilities, and annual reporting are to be provided in the implementing rules and regulations of the Act.