SC seeks Centre's response on illegal clinical trials at VS
Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the central govt's response to allegations by an NGO that 58
illegal clinical trials
have been conducted by national and international pharmaceutical companies in the last four years at the
Sheth Vadilal Sarabhai Hospital
run by the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
(AMC).
Appearing for the NGO
Swasthya Adhikar Manch
, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh informed a bench of Justice P S Narasimha and Justice J Bagchi that these trials were conducted in the absence of an ethics committee, which is mandatory under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.
The allegation about the illegal clinical trials in the hospital was narrated, with support from news reports published in TOI, in an affidavit, which was filed along with the main petition. It highlighted how multinational pharma majors are conducting clinical trials without adhering to the safeguards under the rules and regulations, and treating those undergoing the trials as guinea pigs.
Making a serious allegation, the NGO said in its affidavit, "It is reported that the private drug companies have deposited Rs 17-20 crore in doctors' personal bank accounts. After coming to know of these clinical trials, the Ahmedabad municipal commissioner formed an inquiry committee, which in its report highlighted the irregularities in clinical research and financial operations, and has recommended action against the wrongdoers."
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