Faculty members from the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing recently made a compelling case at the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research held in Montreux, Switzerland, on Nov. 28-29.
Agnes Bhakti Pratiwi, MD, a distinguished representative from Indonesia, was not only in attendance but also took the stage as a speaker. Her mission was to highlight the intricate process of establishing research priorities, particularly in nations with lower to middle incomes.
Pratiwi shared insights gleaned from her extensive case study on health priority setting in Indonesia.
While examining documents spanning 2002-2005 and the National Action Plan for 2020-2024 by the Health Research and Development Agency, she discovered that existing plans centered around essential health, healthcare facilities, personnel, non-communicable diseases, health ethnography, nutritional status, and more.
However, these were found to be action plans rather than a strategic prioritization of health research, which Agnes emphasized in her press release to journalists on Tuesday (Dec. 5).
Expressing her concern, Pratiwi highlighted the potential risks associated with the absence of a nationally determined and standardized process for prioritizing health research.
Without a clear framework, any research project might proceed as long as funding is available, potentially resulting in inefficiency in the allocation of research funds.
Pratiwi stressed the importance of aligning research with the specific needs of the Indonesian population, ensuring that it provides tangible benefits and social value.
“The lack of health research priorities may lead to inefficient use of funds,” she cautioned.
Pratiwi underscored the broader implications, warning that a lack of comprehensive guidelines could exacerbate disparities in future healthcare services and compromise research integrity.
Therefore, she calls for an inclusive approach to setting health research priorities involving policymakers, the community, patients, and those directly affected by health issues.
Pratiwi advocated for amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups that often go unheard, asserting that their perspectives are crucial in shaping effective health research strategies.
To address the urgent need for transparent, just, and inclusive health research priorities in Indonesia, Pratiwi underscored the importance of adhering to these principles.
She emphasized that these principles form the bedrock of ethical health research priority setting, ensuring that research efforts are purposeful and targeted.
Furthermore, Pratiwi proposed integrating bioethics into health research priority-setting guidelines as a crucial preliminary step. By incorporating transparency, justice, and inclusivity, she believes health research outcomes will better serve society.
In a nation as diverse as Indonesia, where research resources are limited, Pratiwi emphasized the importance of maximizing the distribution of healthcare services for the greater benefit of all.
Author: Gusti Grehenson