Over 500 patients at Ahmedabad’s VS Hospital underwent clinical trials, pharma companies refuse to share details

Ahmedabad’s Sheth Vadilal Sarabhai Hospital has courted controversy. According to an interim report by an investigative committee, since 2021, around 58 national and international pharmaceutical companies have conducted clinical trials of their products on approximately 500 patients at the VS Hospital, which is run by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC). These companies tested drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases, and vaccines.

According to Dr Supriya, a pharmacologist at NHL Medical College, these trials were conducted with patient consent. However, despite the large number of trials being carried out over four years without the existence of an ethical committee, most companies refused to provide documents for investigation. 

The committee has been gathering information from various sources connected to major pharma companies to pursue this investigation.

Even though trials have been conducted at VS Hospital since 2021, officials of AMC and leaders of the ruling party were unaware of the situation. In fact, in 2021, Pritesh Mehta, current chairman of the TP Committee and then a board member of VS Hospital, had verbally raised concerns during a board meeting. 

The then-medical superintendent had reportedly responded by saying, “If you feel that way, I will resign.” Eventually, the matter was brushed aside and the superintendent was granted voluntary retirement.

Two months ago, Chandkheda ward corporator Rajshree Kesari raised the issue during a general meeting of the AMC. Following this, the municipal commissioner took the matter seriously and formed a committee including the dean of NHL Medical College, the medical superintendent of VS Hospital, and the director of vigilance. After a detailed investigation, the committee submitted a report to the commissioner highlighting irregularities in clinical research and financial operations and recommended action.

Patients were paid ₹200 to ₹500 per trial

After submitting the interim report, committee members disclosed to the media that pharmaceutical companies were paying patients between ₹200 and ₹500 per trial. Bigger companies were reportedly offering even higher amounts.

Typically, a pharmaceutical company first conducts trials on animals and then moves on to human patients suffering from a particular illness. Before starting trials on human subjects, approval must be obtained from the National Medical Council, the hospital’s ethical committee, and the patients themselves.

In the VS Hospital case, it was revealed that companies obtained approvals from various ethical committees, many of which were unrecognised or invalid.

For four years, under the protection of the former medical superintendent, companies conducted trials at the hospital without providing any financial support to the hospital, as per the report of the investigation committee. 

Fake receipt scam of 2013

In 2013-14, VS Hospital was involved in a fake receipt scam, where the amounts deposited by patients were underreported. Back then, only a preliminary police complaint was filed at Ellisbridge police station, which later led to a court case.

Pratibha Jain, chairperson of the VS Hospital Management Board and Mayor of Ahmedabad stated that appropriate action will be taken once the full report is submitted, but refrained from commenting further.

Critical questions regarding the clinical trials

How did no one notice trials being conducted for four years?

Did pharmaceutical companies make payments without signatures from HODs or the Superintendent?

Why haven’t suspended individuals faced police complaints?

When will there be action against those who caused financial losses worth crores to the municipal treasury?

Why were only contract-based doctors suspended?

Why aren’t records of the last ten years of the Ethical Committee being investigated?

Why is there no audit of ethical committees in other municipal hospitals besides VS Hospital?

Why is the data on how many patients received which drugs being withheld?

Why is the amount paid to patients being concealed?

Why are the names of the pharma companies whose drugs were used not being revealed?