The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued new guidelines regulating the transfer of human biological materials and health-related data to foreign countries.
Under the guidelines, universities must obtain approval from the National Bioethics Committee before transferring human biological materials abroad.
Prior written permission has also been made mandatory for sharing blood, tissues, DNA and human cells with foreign entities. The transfer of human biological materials and health data abroad will not be permitted without the committee’s approval.
According to the HEC, the unauthorised transfer of human biological materials could pose risks to national security and the country’s genetic resources. The authority also warned that the unregulated sharing of health-related data could compromise citizens’ privacy.
The HEC further cautioned that institutions violating the National Bioethics Committee’s regulations could face action.
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