The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has instructed universities and degree-awarding institutions to secure written approval from the National Bioethics Committee (NBC) before sending human biological samples or health-related data abroad.
The requirement covers blood, tissues, DNA, RNA, and human cells shared with foreign institutions. Universities must obtain clearance before making these transfers and fully comply with NBC regulations governing biological material and health information.
In its directive, the HEC warned that unauthorized transfers could create national security risks and compromise the protection of Pakistan’s genetic resources.
The commission also highlighted privacy concerns linked to the unregulated sharing of health-related data, particularly the need to safeguard Pakistani citizens’ personal and genetic information.
Institutions that fail to follow NBC regulations could face regulatory action. The HEC further warned that approvals for ongoing and future research projects may be revoked if the necessary NBC clearance is not obtained.
The directive requires universities to ensure that overseas transfers of both biological samples and health-related information meet the committee’s requirements before proceeding.
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