KFSHD earns recognition of world ethics watchdog

Dammam’s King Fahd Specialist Hospital (KFSHD) has become the first hospital in the Middle East and North Africa region to be accredited by a leading research, ethics and quality protection program.
KFSHD has been accredited by the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program (AAHRPP).
This accreditation ensures the protection of rights and security of individuals involved in human research within the most distinctive research institutions at the global level.
This makes the KFSHD the first recognized medical center after it underwent rigorous procedures.
KFSHD Chief Executive Officer Khaled M. Al-Shaibani expressed his delight and pride at the hospital gaining AAHRPP accreditation, placing it among several worldwide research institutions.
“This achievement comes as a result of concerted efforts and relentless teamwork at the King Khaled Medical City (KKMC) Research Center, an affiliate of KFSHD, in the Eastern Province,” he said.
Al-Shaibani also congratulated participants and supporters of scientific research at KFSHD and thanked hospital staff for their commitment to ethical research.
“The protection of rights and security when undergoing human research is our top priority,” he said. “We now hope to upgrade our medical research sector at regional and global levels.”
“Getting a golden badge from the AAHRPP is a serious indicator of our conformity to ethical policies and procedures,” said Mohammed Saqr, director of the Health Research Center at KKMC.
“At the top of the list comes the protection of individuals who are subject to clinical studies by providing them with information about the study before they agree to be a part of it,” he said. “This means we are tasked with ensuring the use of scientific, ethical, non-exploitative and well thought out methods of study.”
Within a mere 18 months, the KKMC Research Center was able to meet strict, world-class standards to prove its commitment to international quality assurance and protection, he said.
“We have more than 220 internal research initiatives and 35 in the field of clinical studies for the latest medications,” said Saqr.
“Clinical research and studies on drugs and modern day medications are constantly conducted within our labs. The center’s excellence is witnessed by international pharmaceutical companies that conduct clinical research globally.”
Hani Hamad, head of the human research unit at KFSHD, affirmed that since its inception in 2010, the hospital’s research center has been keen to establish a system for research and development.
The previous visit of AAHRPP officials to FSHD lasted two full days, where a team of inspectors assessed records, academic qualifications and professional expertise at the center.