SC asks centre, states to explain “illegal” human drug trials

The Supreme Court today took cognizance of alleged illegal drug trials conducted on a massive scale in Indore, Madhya Pradesh and asked the central and all state governments to provide details of clinical trials being conducted throughout the country.

A Supreme Court bench of Justices R M Lodha and Anil R Dave also issued notices to the state governments, seeking to know whether they were aware of any such clinical trials being undertaken in their respective states.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by non-governmental organisation `Swasthya Adhikar Manch', against patients being subjected to clinical trials in Madhya Pradesh without their knowledge.

"Over 3,300 patients were used for the tests. Approximately 15 government doctors were involved. About 40 private doctors in 10 private hospitals were involved,'' the PIL said detailing several cases of alleged illegal drug trials in Indore.

"Clinical trials were conducted on 233 mentally-ill patients, 1,833 children in the age group of one day to 15 years,'' the PIL alleged.

''Approximately Rs5.5 crore were paid to the government doctors alone. In 2008, there were 288 deaths, in 2009 there were 637 deaths, and in 2010 there were 597 deaths," it added.