The National Health Research Ethics Committee held its first meeting in the presence of HE the Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud. The minister emphasised the committee’s important role in strengthening Qatar’s health research system and ensuring full compliance with ethical and legal standards, contributing to a safe, advanced research environment and improving the quality of research outcomes. During the meeting, the committee reviewed key topics, most notably its principal functions and responsibilities under relevant legislation in Qatar.These include developing and defining ethical frameworks for the use of health research to support innovation and improve healthcare quality. The meeting comes as part of implementing Cabinet Decision No. (13) of 2026 on the formation of the Committee and the determination of its functions.