Medical Ethics Breached: 9 Doctors Suspended, 50 pharma giants in dock for Unauthorised Drug Trials
Doctors Suspended
A five-member panel found that the trials violated NMC and DCGI norms due to lack of regulatory approvals.
Ahmedabad: In a concerning revelation, over 50 pharmaceutical companies are under scrutiny for allegedly collaborating with eight doctors and an associate professor to carry out "unauthorised drug trials" on patients at V S Hospital, a facility operated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The trials, reportedly conducted since 2021, involved critical and vulnerable patient groups suffering from autoimmune diseases, rabies, dermatological disorders, and other serious conditions.
A preliminary probe by a five-member committee has unveiled that these trials were carried out without obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, violating both the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) protocols.
According to a report by the Times of India, the pharmaceutical companies allegedly deposited payments directly into the personal bank accounts of the doctors involved in the trials. A committee member confirmed that no ethical clearance was obtained before initiating these studies.
"No ethical committee was established according to National Medical Commission and Drug Controller of India regulations during the tenure of the then superintendent," Bharat Parmar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, stated at a press conference held on Saturday.
Also Read: Jaipur Hospital, Top Pharma Co face allegations of Conducting Unethical Human drug Trials
Doctors and Faculty Members Suspended
The AMC has suspended one associate professor, Dr Devang Rana, along with eight contracted doctors who have been named in the probe for their alleged collusion with pharma companies.
These individuals are accused of engaging in unauthorised clinical research activities, violating ethical standards, and receiving undisclosed payments outside institutional oversight.
The case surfaced after Congress corporator Rajshree Kesari filed a complaint in February 2025, triggering an internal investigation into clinical research practices at V S Hospital.
Drug Trials Conducted Without Oversight
Committee member Dr Supriya Malhotra confirmed that clinical research has been ongoing for at least four years at the hospital, involving a vast network of pharma sponsors. She told TOI, “Clinical research had been ongoing for the past four years, with an estimated 57 to 58 companies conducting drug trials.”
This revelation raises serious concerns over the lack of transparency, oversight, and patient consent in government-run healthcare institutions. The alleged trials have reportedly been conducted without proper documentation or review by an Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), a mandatory requirement under Indian regulatory law for any human clinical trial.
Hospital Background and Infrastructure
The SVP Hospital, located on the V S Hospital campus, is a 1,600-bed multispecialty institution that was constructed by the AMC in January 2019 at a cost of Rs 800 crore, reports ET. It was envisioned as a modern healthcare centre for the citizens of Ahmedabad, but this incident has cast a shadow on its governance and research protocols.
The municipal authorities have not yet released the names of the pharmaceutical companies involved, but further investigation and potential legal action are expected as the case unfolds. With multiple stakeholders implicated, including corporate sponsors, doctors, and administrative personnel, the episode could have wider ramifications on the governance of clinical trials across India.
Patient advocacy groups and public health experts have already begun raising questions about informed consent, compensation for victims, and the credibility of clinical research emerging from such facilities.
The AMC has assured that it will take strict action against all responsible parties and that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness.
