‘Only 21 legal drug trials at SVP Hospital against 58 illegal trials at VS'
Ahmedabad: A five-member investigation committee from the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
's vigilance department has begun investigation into the allegations of
illegal clinical trials
at VS Hospital. According to senior AMC officials in the know of the development, 21 authorized clinical trials were conducted at
SVP hospital
over the past four years, whereas more than double that – 58 illegal clinical trials – were allegedly conducted covertly at the neighbouring
VS Hospital
during the same period. Doctors involved in these illegal trials allegedly deposited crores of rupees into their bank accounts, sources said.
Notably, since 2019, SVP Hospital and VS Hospital have been operating on the same premises. However, in Jan 2019, separate superintendents were appointed for both hospitals and senior doctors from VS Hospital were gradually transferred to SVP Hospital, while doctors were hired on contract to operate 500 beds at VS Hospital. During the pandemic, in 2020, both hospitals provided Covid treatment.
The officials told TOI that it is after 2021 that illegal clinical trials began at VS Hospital after approval from a private ethics committee instead of through proper regulatory channels. These trials were conducted for private companies and Rs 17–20 crore were allegedly deposited into the doctors' personal bank accounts, said AMC sources.
The investigation committee is preparing to charge
Dr Manish Patel
, the then superintendent of VS Hospital and Dr Devang Rana, the associate professor who was suspended after the allegations surfaced, sources told TOI.
Multiple illegal clinical trials were allegedly conducted simultaneously in VS Hospital in 2021 and 2022. The Medical Education Trust managing SVP Hospital had information regarding these trials but did not take any action, senior AMC officials claimed.
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