Advancing ethical responsibility in global health research: developing and evaluating an ancillary care policy in a resource-constrained setting

Ondertitel:developing and evaluating an ancillary care policy in a resource-constrained setting

Korte inhoud:This thesis investigates the ethical and practical dimensions of ancillary care provision in clinical research, set against the backdrop of an Ebola vaccine trial conducted in the remote town of Boende in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ancillary care—defined as medical care for conditions not required to ensure the scientific validity of a study, safeguard participants’ safety, or treat research-related injuries—has often been considered peripheral to the aims of clinical research. However, in resource-constrained settings, where access to basic healthcare is limited and health systems are often under-resourced, the ethical significance of ancillary care becomes especially salient. Drawing on a detailed case study of the ancillary care policy developed and implemented during the Boende trial, this thesis examines how researchers can respond ethically and practically to participants’ unmet health needs. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines empirical data with ethical analysis, it evaluates the policy’s feasibility, acceptability, and impact, and proposes a context-sensitive framework to inform future ancillary care strategies in global health research. The thesis situates ancillary care within broader debates about justice, responsibility, and benefit-sharing in international research. It argues that ancillary care is a crucial ethical obligation—one that supports trust, reciprocity, and fairness in research relationships. Especially in contexts lacking universal health coverage or equitable access to care, ancillary care emerges as acceptable, affordable, ethical, and essential for responsible product development and for embedding research meaningfully within host communities.

Jaar van publicatie:2025

Trefwoorden:Human medicine

Toegankelijkheid:Open