Probe Ordered into Clinical Trial That Left Poor Women Ill in Andhra

Health authorities in Andhra Pradesh have launched an investigation after it was revealed that a Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company had preyed on poor women in the region to take part in a clinical trial even though it had allegedly not received permission of the state government. The clinical trials were conducted 3-4 months back but came to light only on Thursday after 20 women from Piduguralla town who participated in the trial fell ill. Health Minister Ravindra Reddy said that he has asked the Director General of Drug Administration RP Meena to conduct an investigation into the matter.

One of the participants who took part in the trial said that the company based in Miyapur, Hyderabad, had promised to pay them “huge amounts” of money but instead paid them just Rs 9,000 and also did not provide any information regarding the trials.

“If everything goes well after taking a tablet, the person is asked to visit the lab again after 10 days when an injection is given. Another dose of injection is administered after 10 days. We were paid Rs 9,000 for the three rounds of tests”, Jakka Kumari, who participated in the trials, said.



Source-Medindia