the controversy over the cancer drug trial at the Regional Cancer Centre of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has taken a new turn. A high power team, set up by the Union health ministry to probe the incident, has upheld allegations that the trials were conducted in gross violation of the laws. According to sources in the ministry, the investigating team has found clear evidence that the scientists involved in the experiments did not get the necessary permissions for conducting the trials. The team even reported that the drug had been surreptitiously brought into India (Read: Malignant trials, Down To Earth , Vol 10, No 7, August 31, 2001). The ministry has now directed the institute to suspend all its experiments involving clinical trials on human subjects for six months and to reconstitute its institutional ethics committee.Further, it has decided to make it mandatory for all research institutes to follow ethical guidelines formulated by the Indian Council of Medical Research on biomedical research.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.