The Ministry of Health and
Health Research in the Cook Islands


Policy and
Procedures














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Cook Islands Ministry of Health Research Committee:

1.   Secretary of Health;
2.   Manager of Dental Health;
3.   Health Promotion officer (Nutrition);
4.   Research Administrator (HR Manager);
5.   Manager of Research
6.   Obstetrician


Ministry of Health Vision:
“All people living in the Cook Islands living healthier lives and achieving their aspirations”

MISSION STATEMENT

“Our mission is to maximise the benefits of Health research in the Cook Islands, for both Cook Islands people and 
researchers”.


The Cook Islands Ministry of Health encourages research in the Cook Islands which has benefits to the country and its 
people and aligns with the Ministry of Health (“MoH”) priorities.   It is recommended that approval from the Cook 
Islands Ministry of Health Research Committee (CIMOHRC) and the Cook Islands National Research Committee is obtained 
before commencement of any research.

Many researchers are contracted by organisations working with the Cook Islands Government or non- governmental 
organisations.   In such cases, despite the fact that the request for research may have originated within the Cook 
Islands, the details of the research proposal still need the approval of the CIMOHRC if it has a health component.


The Cook Islands Health Research Committee embraces the definition of research as defined by the New Zealand Tertiary 
Education Commission’s (“NZTEC”) Research Guidelines (2003) and used by the Cook Islands Research Council (“CIRC”). It 
is as follows:

Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge  of  
people,  cultures  and  societies,  and  the  use  of  this  stock  of  knowledge  to  devise  new applications.     
Research  may  be  multi-disciplinary  and  may  include  a  range  of  methodological approaches.   Pacific  research  
is  informed  by  and  embedded  within  the  continuum  of  Pacific  world views,  knowledge,  practices  and  
beliefs,  involves  the  active  participation  of  Pacific  peoples,  and  is relevant and responsive to their needs.

The   Cook   Islands   Ministry   of   Health,   welcomes   research   from   prospective   researchers   and 
organisations wishing to carry out health research in the Cook Islands.











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MINISTRY OF HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY 2014

Purpose:

This research policy is driven by a priority to safeguard the health interests of all people living in the Cook 
Islands.  Through the management of a robust research framework, the Ministry of Health aims to promote health research 
activities in the Cook Islands that enhance the health, social and economic wellbeing of Cook Islands people. This 
policy will lead the CIMOHRC research activities to support MOH goals.

The following principles establish health related research policy in the Cook Islands:

Mandatory requirements:

Ministry of Health Act 2013
Health Strategy 2012-2016- Goal 3 objective 1 which elaborates that research should be promoted and a research strategy 
implemented.


Principles:1

1.    Applying  research  and  policy  to  support  evidence  based  policy  program  decisions  and practices;
2.    Building individual and organisational capacity to access, use and conduct research;
3.    Communicating information about existing and new research activities and findings;
4.    Fostering research collaboration through networking and partnerships;
5.    Incorporating gender issues;
6.    All health research activity conducted in the Cook Islands is subject to policy and the laws of the  Cook  
Islands,  including  any  domestic  legislation  and  international  obligations  by way  of treaty, which may impact 
upon research activities;
7.    All  researchers  or  individuals/organisations  intending  to  carry  out  health  research  activity, must 
communicate with and abide by the administrative procedures and decisions of  the Cook Islands  Ministry  of  Health  
Research  Council  (CIMOHRC),  which  is  governed  by  an  approved Terms of Reference (refer to TOR for details), and 
serviced by a Research Administrator;
8.    The   CIMOHRC   is   charged   with   certain   responsibilities   under   the   TOR   and   forms   the 
management basis of the MoH research framework.   The CIMOHRC Research Administrator will oversee the operational 
processes and requirements for research approvals and related permits, and other obligations, as detailed in the MoH 
research process document;
9.    Subject to this policy, and related procedures as prescribed under the administration by the CIMOHRC,  all  
approved  researchers  agree  to  abide  by  the  researcher  obligations  therein, including  compliance  with  the  
submission  of  and  accessibility  to  reports  and  documented information,  monitoring  and  evaluation  procedures, 
 and  full  disclosure  of  any  intellectual property issues.
10.  The management process is crucial to the sustainability of beneficial research outcomes and related  successes.    
 This  policy  therefore  acknowledges  the  importance  of  consultative

1  Please Note: Health research activity encompasses any tasks by individuals, groups, institutions, or organisations, 
which involve but may not necessarily be restricted to, the study or investigation, collection, and/or processing of 
any data, samples, images, flora and fauna, marine or animal life, living or non-living material (organic or 
manufactured), and creative or scientific ideas and the functional performance thereof (whether traditional, cultural, 
or academic) for the purpose of producing a body of work for acknowledgement, commercial gain, or any degree of 
recognition by a third party which may have implications on the health of Cook Islanders.
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processes  and  the  inter-connectedness  of  stakeholders’  relations.    Wherever  possible,  the CIMOHRC will 
undertake to facilitate the concerns of researchers, as they may arise from time to   time,   particularly   in  the   
form   of   any   appeals   against   certain  conditions   made,   or enforcement of certain penalties on occasions of 
non-compliance.  The CIMOHRC also acts as advocate for the interests of Government and all Cook Islands’ stakeholders 
in managing policy and recommending directives for future development.



Objectives:


Objective
Objective 1: improve the conduct of quality research through a well planned and flexible program
Activity
•     Establish committee and develop TOR for research committee date- 2015.
Tasked to Research manager
timeline 2015


Objective 2: to annually review health priority needs and determine research areas
•     Use health information systems data to prioritise research areas annually.

•     Promote research and use the evidence gathered to inform and improve practice.


•     Incorporate gender analysis on the differential impacts of the environmental determinants of health in research 
projects and studies.
•     HIU




•     RESEARCH COMMITTE




•     RESEARCH COMMITTE
•     Annually




•     Annually




•     Annually


Objective 3: strengthen research capacity of the health workforce through continuous capacity building plan.
•     Providing opportunity to build local capacity through attachments carried out in country as well as attachments 
to universities/professional colleges which offer research methodology training. Continuous
•     RESEARCH COMMITTE
•     Annually


Objective 4: improve the dissemination of research findings to relevant stakeholders.
Ensure preliminary
•     Publish findings to be submitted to the MOH.
•     RESEARCH COMMITTE
•     continuo usly




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findings are presented to the research committee and the MOH staff Objective 5: strengthen data collection and analysis 
for informed decision making.
Training staff on clear data collection methodology and analysis in research and surveys.




•     Promote research and use the evidence gathered to inform practice and improve research for behaviour change 
strategies.




•     RESEARCH COMMITTE




•     continuo usly











































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TERMS OF REFERENCE:

The Cook Islands Ministry of Health Research Committee (CIMOHRC) was established in 2013 for the following purposes:

1.   Safeguard the interest of the Cook Islands people and their unique resources;

2.   Improve the management of health research activities in the Cook Islands;

3.   Engage  Cook  Islanders  and  MoH  staff  in  research  activities  and  processes  to  increase research capacity 
and capability;

4.   Monitor  the  development  and  implementation  of  research/surveys/studies  to  provide evidence and information 
on health determinants, health system performance and health status;

5.   Establish partnerships with relevant institutions for technical assistance in research if and when required;

6.   Promote the transfer of knowledge and sharing and use of research;

7.   Ensure approval of research is aligned to Ministry of Health priorities.


FUNCTIONS OF THE COOK ISLANDS MINISTRY OF HEALTH RESEARCH COMMITTEE:

The  functions  of  the  Cook  Islands  Ministry  of  Health  Research  Committee  include  the following:


1.   Screen  all  Health  research  proposals  to  ensure  that  procedures  and  particulars  are  in order;

2.   Identify  relevant  Health  research  topic  areas  based  on  stakeholder  and  government research priorities, 
and promote to those interested in carrying out research in the Cook Islands;

3.   Ensure  that  all  Health  research  activities  are  appropriately  aligned  to  the  current  MOH Health 
Strategy 2012-2016.












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RESEARCH APPLICATION PROCESS:

Upon  receipt  of  the  research  application  form  from  the  Cook  Island  Research  Committee (CIRC), the CIMOHRC 
Research Administrator will carry out the following:

1.   Acknowledge receipt of the research application ;

2.   Present   completed   research   application   form,   assessment   and   recommendation   to CIMOHRC to review 
and approve;

3.   Notify CIRC of CIMOHRC decision within 10 working days of CIMOHRC decision.

4.   Should  an  application  be  presented  directly  to  the  Ministry  of  Health,  this  will  be forwarded to the 
CIRC for processing as outlined in steps 1 to 3 above.







CIMOHRC
Administrator
• Acknowledge receipt of research application from CIRC
• Present completed research application form, assessment and recommendation to CIMOHRC to review and approve.





CIMOHRC
• Evaluates the application
• Notify CIRC of CIMOHRC decision within 10 working days.






CIRC
• Notifies the Researcher/s of the outcome.






RESEARCHER OBLIGATIONS ON APPROVAL BY CIMOHRC:

1.   Research Approval Conditions
The researcher will be able to commence their research activity on receipt of an approved letter from the CIMOHRC 
Research Administrator and approval by and receipt of research permit  from  the  CIRC.  This  will  detail  the  
research  activity  proposed  and  outline  key conditions that need to be adhered too. Failure to adhere will mean 
immediate suspension of the research approval. The researcher must also sign a statement of confidentiality prior to  
the  commencement  of  the  research  project  if  personal  or  sensitive  information  is handled. The use of 
information/samples for testing is to be restricted to the requesting researcher, and not to be used for another study.


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COMPLETION OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY:

Upon completion of the research, the researcher will be required to do the following:

1.   Make arrangements with Research Administrator of CIMOHRC for a presentation to the Committee of the research 
findings;

2.   Send  1  hard  copy  and  one  electronic  copy  of  the  final  research  document  to  the Administrator of 
CIMOHRC.

3.   Send 2 copies of final research document to the Secretariat of the CIRC (the Office of the Prime Minister) as per 
the requirements for research approved by the CIRC.












































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HEALTH RESEARCH ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE:

Title of Research:

Name of Chief Investigator:

Criteria for Assessing Research Proposals:
Each research proposal is assessed on:

A. Health Significance
B. Scientific Merit
C. Design and Methods, including ethics review
D. Expertise and Track Record of the Research Team

Each research proposal is and scored 1 (low) to 7 (high) on each of the criteria:

A.  Health Significance

Assessment   of   the   health   issue;   advancement   of   knowledge   relevant   to   health;   and contribution  to 
 improvements  in  health  and  health  outcomes  in  general  and  in  the  Cook Islands. Clearly articulate how the 
results will be communicated in the Cook Islands?

B.   Scientific Merit

Potential  to  advance  knowledge  in  the  field;  aims  and  hypotheses  are  presented;  and originality of the 
approach;

C.   Design and Methods

Study design; appropriateness of the research methods chosen; the validity of the proposed analyses; and the 
feasibility of attaining the statistical power sought (if appropriate);

Ethics review2 – has the research been assessed as acceptable by a reputable ethics research committee?  Are  there  
are  other  ethical  or  cultural  issues  to  consider?  Do  consent  or information forms need review locally?

D.  Expertise and Track Record of the Research Team

Academic qualifications of  the  researcher/research team; experience and  knowledge in the proposed research area; and 
track record of publications and the dissemination of research results;

In the event that the research will be conducted by a team, the track record of each member of the team, i.e. Named 
Investigators, must be assessed. Consider the time or FTE dedicated by senior investigators on each proposal.


2 Please note that ethical review  will be obtained  from the respective bodies/institutions that the researcher 
belongs too.
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Health Research Assessment: Title of Research
Name of Chief Investigator

Health Research Assessment Committee


Criteria
Health Significance
Score
Comment









Scientific Merit









Design  &  methods, incl ethics review









Expertise    &    Track Record










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Monitoring and Evaluation framework:


Applicati on received
Date reviewed
Date decisio n sent to CIRC
Name of research er
Name of research
Brief synopsis of research
Any issues
Start date of
researc h
End date of researc h
Follow up at end of research.


















































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