Probe into unethical drug trials in Madhya Pradesh resumes

The Madhya Pradesh authorities have resumed the probe against 40 local doctors for their alleged role in unethical drug trials.

Dr GS Patel, Director of Medical Education, has been appointed as the investigating officer of the issue.

Dr Patel told reporters, "Lokayukta police have asked us to complete the investigation as soon as possible. Today we expedited the probe against four doctors, namely, Salil Bhargav, Ashok Vajpayee, Anil Bharani and Hemant Jain. Probe against other doctors will also be expedited."

According to him, the investigation could not be completed because some of the doctors and witnesses did not appear before the investigation officers. However, he assured that he would now try to finish the probe quickly and submit report to Lokayukta police.

Meanwhile, an RTI activist Rajendra Gupta, said that he had filed a complaint with Lokayukta police against the 40 doctors and handed over hundreds of supporting documents in 2010, but no concrete action was taken.

According to Gupta, these doctors facilitated unethical drug tests on poor patients and accepted foreign junkets funded by pharma companies. The state government, in turn, had promoted some of them, while some retired without any action against them.

-PTI