741 deaths linked to unauthorised stem cell therapy at Gujarat Hospital, alleges Congress

Ahmedabad: A major controversy has erupted in Gujarat following allegations of unauthorised stem cell therapy trials being conducted for years without proper approvals at a government hospital that may be linked to the unconfirmed deaths of 741 kidney patients, as alleged by the Gujarat Congress party spokesperson Parthivrajsinh Kathavadia. 

At a recent press conference, Kathavadia alleged that between 1999 and 2017, a total of 2,352 patients at the government-run Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad were subjected to experimental stem cell therapy. He alleged that all these data and findings have been documented in a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

According to his claims, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report revealed that the therapy resulted in the death of 741 kidney patients, failed in 91% of the cases, with 569 patients experiencing kidney transplant failure, and complications in 110 patients prevented kidney transplants. Moreover, 2,132 out of 2,352 patients experienced unsuccessful outcomes.

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He accused the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre of conducting unauthorised stem cell therapy trials and questionable kidney transplants over the past few years. 

In response to the allegations, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation has now asked the State Health Department to submit a report on the actions taken so far.

As per the Mathrubhumi report, the issue came to light after it was exposed that doctors at an Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation hospital had conducted unapproved drug trials and embezzled money in the process. 

Further, Kathavadia claimed that the CAG pointed out that since the National Apex Committee had not approved the therapy, it was discontinued at the centre after 2017.

Demanding action against the culprits and accusing the health department of being negligent in this regard, he told TOI that "In 2017, stem cell therapy at IKDRC was halted by the National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy. The CAG observed that IKDRC conducted clinical trials without approval from the Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy."

"Unauthorised experiments were carried out on innocent patients. Who will be held accountable for the loss of those lives? The Congress demands that stringent action must be taken against all individuals responsible for the lapse," he alleged.

Medical Dialogues also reported that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) barred VS Hospital from conducting any further clinical trials after an official probe uncovered that the hospital allegedly conducted 58 unauthorised trials between 2021 and April 2025, without proper approvals or ethical oversight. In this regard, nine doctors were suspended, and nearly 50 pharmaceutical companies came under scrutiny for their role in unauthorised clinical drug trials conducted at the hospital without mandatory approvals.

Also read- 58 Unauthorised Clinical Trials Spark DCGI Ban on VS Hospital, Doctors, Pharma Giants Under Fire