Drug trials in India: 3 deaths in every 2 days
19 Apr, 2013As per information received from the office of the Drug Controller at the General of Directorate General of Health Services, in the past two years the pharmaceutical companies have given a compensation of 1.05 Crores in 38 cases at an average of nearly Rs. 2.63 lakhs per person. In one case, the compensation amount could not be distrbuted as the successor could not be identified.
In 2010, nine pharma companies gave an amount of Rs 70.33 lakhs in 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. cases while in 2011, 8 pharma companies gave an amount of Rs. 34.91 lakhs in 16 cases.
During the drug testing 288 people in died in 2008, 637 in 2009, 668 in 2010, 438 in 2011, 211 deaths till June 2012.This implies more than one death every day during the trial of drugs in the country. The government has amended the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. But the guidelines need to be made clearer so that ordinary people could benefit from this.