AIIMS Bhubaneswar, CCRH refuses to disclose study details on drug over usage

Bhubaneswar: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an apex research institute under the AYUSH ministry to reduce the thoughtless and excessive use of modern medicine. AIIMS Bhubaneswar has undertaken a critical study to do so.

The institutes have already signed the MoU; however, they have declined to provide the details of the cooperation when an RTI was evoked. Following the signing of an MoU with CCRH to include homoeopathy into the current healthcare system, AIIMS Bhubaneswar tweeted last month, "It will provide a productive synergy for cooperation in research and education. Aims to reduce the over usage of modern medicines drugs."

However, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and CCRH refused to comply when RTI activist and Kannur-based ophthalmologist Dr K. V. Babu requested copies of all conversations and file notings between the two prestigious institutions. Babu informed the daily, “When a tertiary care centre like AIIMS is conducting a study to reduce the over usage of modern medicine, the study should be transparent, which is the hallmark of scientific medicine.”

Scientific research in homoeopathy is being carried out, coordinated, developed, disseminated, and supported by CCRH. On the question of disclosing the information, both institutes said that they are not compelled to disclose confidential information as it is protected under Sections 8(1)(d), 8(1)(e) and 8 (1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. 

As per Section 8, “exemption from disclosure of information -- notwithstanding anything contained in this Act-- there shall be no obligation to give any citizen (d) information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information”, reports The New Indian Express.