Unethical clinical trials at VS Hospital killed three, alleges Congress
Updated: Apr 22nd, 2025
Congress councillor Rajshree Kesari accused doctors at Amdavad Municipal Corporation-run VS Hospital of unethical practices for allegedly approving unauthorised clinical research, which led to the deaths of three patients.
Kesari claimed that one of the three deaths occurred at VS Hospital due to clinical trials while speaking to media. She further alleged that, as per the MoU signed by VS Hospital, doctors, including the then superintendent and dean took commissions for allowing these clinical trials.
Speaking at the AMC board meeting on Monday, she requested Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani for a meeting with the family of one of the deceased.
Congress corporators staged a protest during the meeting, accusing massive corruption in the name of clinical trials. They displayed banners reading “I am a corrupt doctor of VS Hospital” stating that the hospital had turned living patients into lab experiments.
During the meeting, it was questioned how clinical trials were conducted on over 500 patients with 58 trials completed without the knowledge of authorities. Councillor Iqbal Shaikh demanded the resignation of the mayor, citing moral responsibility since he is also the chairman of the VS Hospital board. However, the mayor dismissed the demand.
During her address, Kesari questioned the integrity of the investigation committee formed by AMC, pointing out that some of the accused doctors were part of the committee. She accused doctors of tampering with patients’ lives under the guise of clinical trials.
Kesari demanded strict action against all involved. At one point, municipal commissioner Pani asked her to bring evidence, to which she responded that she had proof and wanted to meet him privately. She reiterated to the media that one of the three deaths occurred at VS Hospital and the other two possibly at SVP Hospital, which she was still investigating.
During the board meeting discussion, municipal commissioner Pani stated that the doctors involved in the scandal had acted secretly and without informing anyone, including the then municipal commissioner, deputy commissioner of health-hospitals, or the VS Hospital board chairman. He assured strict action and mentioned that one associate doctor had been suspended, and eight contract doctors were removed. The former medical superintendent had also been charge-sheeted.
Recovery of funds from doctors’ accounts
Pani further added that doctors bypassed the guidelines of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and approved trials without authorisation, giving approval to pharmaceutical companies. A full investigation is underway, and any money deposited into personal accounts of the doctors will be recovered. Departmental action will be taken against all guilty, and the inquiry will be completed within 15 days.
Dr Parul Shah, the current Superintendent of VS Hospital, said the clinical trials began before her tenure. Trials were being conducted by 4–5 companies, and there was no official ethical committee in the hospital. Private committees were formed by doctors to conduct the trials, which began in 2021.
According to Dr Shah, 56 trials were conducted, with 50 registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India.
Key questions raised by the opposition regarding clinical trials
How did these trials go unnoticed for four years?
Did pharma companies make payments without signatures from HODs, superintendents, deans, or the deputy municipal commissioner?
Why haven’t police complaints been filed against suspended individuals?
When will there be police action against those who caused crores of rupees in losses to the municipal treasury?
Why were only contract-based doctors suspended?
Why hasn’t the record of the ethical committee from the last 10 years been investigated?
Why are ethical committees in other municipal hospitals not being scrutinised?
Why is the data on how many patients and which drugs were tested being hidden?
Why is there secrecy about how much pharma companies paid to patients?
Why are the names of the drug companies not being disclosed?
Doctors signed MoU in 2024
In the board meeting, it was alleged that doctors at VS Hospital signed an MoU with S4 Research Pvt Ltd, a patient recruitment firm for clinical trials, on November 29, 2024, which included details about project profit-sharing.
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