SC seeks Centre response on 'illegal clinical trials' in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: SC Wednesday sought central govt's response to allegations by an NGO that as many as 58 illegal clinical trials have been conducted by national and international pharmaceutical companies in the last four years at Ahmedabad municipal corporation-run Sheth Vadilal Sarabhai Hospital.

Appearing for the NGO, Swasthya Adhikar Manch, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh informed a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and J Bagchi that these trials were conducted in the absence of an ethical committee, which is mandatory under New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.

The allegation about illegal clinical trials in hospital was narrated, with support from news reports published in TOI, in an affidavit, which was filed in the main petition that highlighted how multinational pharma majors are conducting clinical trials without adhering to the safeguards provided under the rules and regulations, and treating those undergoing clinical trials as guinea pigs.

The NGO said, "...After coming to know of these clinical trials, Ahmedabad municipal commissioner formed an inquiry committee, which in its report highlighted the irregularities, and has recommended action against the wrongdoers."

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