Article 7 of Royal Decree 1893/1996, of 2 August, of the Basic Organic Structure of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, its autonomous agencies and the National Institute of Health, configures the Institute of Health " Carlos III ", as a scientific and technical support organ of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs and the various Health Services of the Autonomous Communities.

The Health Research Fund, under the organic level of Subdirectorate General to the "Carlos III" Health Institute, is responsible for the promotion of research in health sciences through evaluation, financing and monitoring of research projects, support for infrastructure and support for the training of research staff.

As a consequence of this membership it is necessary to proceed to the adaptation of the organs of the Health Research Fund, to the structure derived from the new administrative organization.

In its virtue, after the approval of the Minister of Public Administrations I have:

First. Constitution. -For a better development of the functions which are attributed to the Health Research Fund in Article 7 (4) of Royal Decree 1893/1996 of 2 August 1996, and integrated administratively in the said fund is constituted, in (a) the Scientific Council, which will ensure the maintenance of high levels of scientific quality in the activities of the Health Research Fund, as well as the Technical Evaluation Committees.

Second. Functions of the Scientific Council. -These are the functions of the Scientific Council:

(a) To advise on the lines and policy in the biomedical research of the activities of the fund and the adequacy of the investments made to the intended purpose.

b) Advise the Directorate within the field of health scientific research policy.

c) To study and propose priority research lines in accordance with the guidelines set by the Inter-Ministerial Science and Technology Commission.

d) Exercise any other function that, in relation to health research, is entrusted to him by the Director of the Health Institute "Carlos III".

e) To provide the collaboration and advice requested by the Technical Evaluation Committees.

Third. Composition of the Scientific Council. The Scientific Council shall consist of a maximum of twelve vowels, for renewable periods of four years, appointed by the Director of the Health Institute "Car los III", among persons of recognized prestige in the Methodology and Health Sciences field. The Presidency of the Scientific Council shall be the responsibility of the Director of the Institute of Health "Carlos III", acting as Secretary of the Deputy Director-General of the Health Research Fund, with a voice but without a vote in accordance with the provisions of the In Article 25 (3) (a) of Law 30/1992, of 26 November.

The appointment of the members of the Board may be subject to free revocation by decision of the Director of the Health Institute "Carlos III".

Fourth. Functions of the Technical Evaluation Commissions. -Corresponding to the Technical Evaluation Commissions, the following functions:

a) Evaluate research projects and propose their acceptance or rejection, by means of a reasoned report that will be incorporated into the project.

b) Evaluate and report annually on the monitoring of the research work during its performance, analyze them and qualify them at the end of the work by studying the corresponding memories.

c) Evaluate the annual reports of aid to the infrastructure of the Research Units.

Fifth. Composition of the Technical Evaluation Committees.-The Technical Evaluation Committees will be composed of experts in a specialized field of health research, assistance or teaching, which, in number not less than five, will be appointed by the Deputy Director-General of the Health Research Fund, with the participation of Scientific Societies for renewable periods of four years.

There will be as many Commissions as areas of scientific action are considered necessary.

The Director of the Health Institute "Carlos III" will appoint a proposal from the Deputy Director of the Health Research Fund, a President according to his research curriculum and with sufficient experience in the field assess for each of the Technical Assessment Committees which will be responsible for the evaluation process of the research projects, together with the evaluators concerned with the Commission, as well as the evaluation of the reports and the end of each research project.

Sixth. Operation. The action of the Scientific Council and the Technical Committees of Evaluation shall be in accordance with the rules contained in Chapter II of Title II of Law 30/1992, of 26 November, of the Legal Regime of Public Administrations and of the Common Administrative Procedure.

Seventh. Means. The functioning of the organs will not entail any increase in public expenditure and will be attended with the material and personnel resources available at the "Carlos III" Health Institute.

Eighth. Removal of organs.-The Administrative Commission and its delegated Commission shall be deleted in the provisions referred to in the following paragraph.

Ninth. Regulatory repeal-The following provisions are repealed:

Order of 27 June 1980 governing the Sanitary Research Fund.

Order of 3 August 1983 amending the Order of 27 June 1980, a regulator of the Sanitary Research Fund.

Order of 18 October 1985 amending the regulation of the Sanitary Research Fund.

Point 5 of the fifth paragraph of the Order of 29 May 1997 calling for assistance from the Health and Consumer Ministry's Health Research Promotion programme.

Resolution of 30 June 1980, of the Secretariat of State for Health, on rules for the financing of the Social Security Health Research Fund.

10th. Entry into force. This Order shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Gazette of the State.

Madrid, 9 January 1998.

ROMAY BECCARIA

Ilmos. Mr Deputy Secretary for Health and Consumer Affairs and Director of the "Carlos III" Health Institute.