Doctors Made Crores in Illegal Drug Trials at VS Hospital

An ongoing investigation by the vigilance department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has uncovered serious concerns about illegal clinical drug trials at VS Hospital. According to senior AMC officials, only 21 authorized clinical trials were conducted at SVP Hospital over the past four years. In stark contrast, as many as 58 unauthorized clinical trials were reportedly carried out at VS Hospital during the same period.

Allegations of Financial Misconduct

The doctors involved in these unapproved trials are alleged to have deposited large sums—estimated between ₹17 to ₹20 crore—into their personal bank accounts. These trials were allegedly done without proper regulatory oversight and were instead approved by a private ethics committee, raising questions about the legitimacy and safety of these experiments.

Hospital Management and Structural Changes

Since 2019, SVP and VS Hospitals have operated from the same campus. However, in January 2019, the management of the two hospitals was formally separated. Senior medical staff from VS Hospital were transferred to SVP Hospital, and contract-based staff were brought in to run 500 beds at VS Hospital. Both hospitals were also involved in providing treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Start of Unauthorized Trials After 2021

It was only after 2021 that the unauthorized clinical trials allegedly began at VS Hospital. These trials were reportedly conducted for private pharmaceutical companies, bypassing government regulatory channels. This led to significant ethical and legal violations, according to AMC sources.

Action Against Responsible Personnel

The AMC’s investigation committee is now preparing to take disciplinary action against two doctors: Dr. Manish Patel, who was the superintendent of VS Hospital at the time, and Dr. Devang Rana, an associate professor who has already been suspended following the allegations.

Lack of Oversight Despite Prior Knowledge

Interestingly, officials from the Medical Education Trust, which oversees SVP Hospital, were reportedly aware of the ongoing illegal trials but did not intervene. This lack of action has raised further concerns about accountability and oversight within the healthcare system.

Conclusion

In summary, the case highlights a serious breach of medical ethics and governance. As the investigation continues, it is expected that more details will emerge regarding how such a large number of unauthorized clinical trials were conducted without detection for so long. The authorities are now under pressure to ensure that appropriate legal and professional action is taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources