Guinea-Bissau denies approval for controversial newborn Hepatitis B study

Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Health, Quinhin Nantote, has denied that the government authorized a controversial Hepatitis B study involving 14,000 newborns. This statement contradicts reports provided to a Danish ethics committee, which suggested that local officials had approved an updated version of the study design.

The proposed research aims to monitor “nonspecific” health outcomes, such as overall mortality and neurodevelopmental conditions, rather than evaluating the safety or effectiveness of a vaccine. The study has drawn intense criticism from the scientific community, with detractors labeling it “horribly unethical” and “neocolonialist.” Critics argue that conducting such research in a resource-constrained environment like Guinea-Bissau, rather than in a country with robust healthcare infrastructure like Denmark, raises significant ethical concerns regarding the potential exploitation of a vulnerable population.

In response to the controversy, an emergency meeting was convened with local health organizations, including the Bandim Health Project, which is led by Danish researchers Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn. Minister Nantote emphasized that any scientific research involving human subjects, particularly children, must strictly comply with national legislation and international ethical standards.