Benefits to Host Countries

Abstract

Abstract One of the major ethical issues in biomedical research relates to access to drugs and other interventions after a trial has been completed. If the ultimate purpose of research studies is to improve health, then somehow ensuring access to interventions proven safe and effective would seem to be a necessary step. Yet, as is well documented, adoption of any new intervention or technology is haphazard at best. In part this is because after research studies, the drugs or devices might not be submitted for regulatory approval or, if submitted, might not be approved. In addition, health-care providers might not implement the interventions because of inertia or lack of training. And, in both developing and developed countries, the high cost of the interventions might preclude access to these interventions. Historically, a commonly identified problem—which may or may not have been common— has been so-called helicopter or “briefcase” research. The researchers, concerned about the data and publication, came, conducted their study, obtained the relevant data, and left the research area, unconcerned about what subsequently transpired for the research participants and their community.