The recent revelation of irregularities in clinical trials at Ahmedabad’s VS Hospital has sent shockwaves through Gujarat’s healthcare system, raising serious questions about research ethics, regulatory oversight, and patient safety. As public trust wavers, the state’s Health Department has launched a sweeping inquiry into all clinical trials conducted under government medical institutions—including those affiliated with DMER and GMERS. What began as an isolated scandal is now threatening to expose systemic lapses across Gujarat’s medical research landscape.
According to newspaper reports, health authorities have requested detailed information on all clinical trials carried out over the past two years across these institutions. The investigation will scrutinise the functioning of ethics and research committees, including the credentials and membership of committee members. Financial records associated with the trials are also being reviewed, according to insiders who didn’t want to be named.
Officials suggest that this widened investigation may uncover similar irregularities in other government-run medical facilities, though the full scope of potential misconduct is yet to be determined.
A senior DMER official based in Gandhinagar described the VS Hospital episode as a significant jolt to the medical community. The official said that while numerous ethical clinical trials are being conducted across government hospitals and colleges, adherence to proper protocols is crucial. Authorities, the official noted, are currently verifying whether ethics committees are properly constituted and legally registered.
The department is also analysing data from trials conducted over the past one to two years to identify any financial irregularities. Meetings have already been held with senior staff from Sola Civil Hospital, Medical College, and Gotri Medical College and Hospital to discuss these issues.
According to the official, comprehensive data has been requested from all government medical colleges and hospitals involved in clinical research, including BJ Medical College under DMER. Sources confirmed that high-level meetings have taken place with top officials at BJ Medical College and Sola Civil Hospital as a direct response to the unfolding scandal.
State Health Commissioner Harshad Patel offered a slightly different take on the developments. He acknowledged that regulations were breached during the clinical trials at VS Hospital but described the current process as a “verification” rather than a formal investigation. Patel maintained that clinical trials are being conducted ethically in most DMER and GMERS institutions and stressed that the department has merely requested trial-related data for review.
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