Nine Doctors Suspended as Over 50 Pharma Companies Face Probe for Unauthorised Drug Trials at Ahmedabad Hospital

Ahmedabad: A preliminary investigation has uncovered a major breach of medical ethics involving unauthorised drug trials conducted at V S Hospital, operated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Eight doctors and an associate professor allegedly collaborated with more than 50 pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials without proper regulatory approvals since 2021.

The trials reportedly involved patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, rabies, skin conditions, and other ailments. According to the probe, payments from these companies were directly deposited into the personal bank accounts of the implicated doctors, bypassing institutional oversight. The absence of an ethical committee, as mandated by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), was highlighted by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Bharat Parmar during a press conference.

Following a complaint filed by Congress corporator Rajshree Kesari in February 2025, a five-member committee was constituted to investigate the matter. Committee member Dr Supriya Malhotra confirmed that clinical research had been ongoing at the hospital for approximately four years, with an estimated 57 to 58 pharmaceutical companies conducting trials.

The AMC has suspended the associate professor, Dr Devang Rana, along with eight contracted doctors implicated in the probe. The hospital, which includes the 1,600-bed SVP Hospital built at a cost of Rs 800 crore in 2019 on the V S Hospital campus, had no Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) overseeing these trials, a critical regulatory requirement for human clinical research in India.

This scandal raises serious concerns about patient safety, informed consent, and the integrity of clinical research within government-run healthcare institutions. The AMC has pledged stringent action against all those responsible, and further investigations are underway to hold the pharmaceutical companies and medical personnel accountable.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information from preliminary investigations and reports available as of April 2025. The accused parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The details herein are subject to updates as the investigation progresses.