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Ahmedabad, April 23, 2025: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has suspended nine doctors associated with the civic-run V.S. Hospital amid serious allegations of irregularities in clinical trials conducted at the facility, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The suspensions follow claims that the doctors bypassed mandatory legal procedures and misappropriated funds intended for the hospital.
According to officials, the group of doctors allegedly circumvented the requirement to establish a legally mandated Ethics Committee for overseeing clinical trials. Instead, they reportedly formed an unofficial internal panel to manage these trials. The controversy escalated after Congress Corporator Rajshree Kesari alleged that potentially unauthorised clinical trials involving over 500 patients over the past four years may have led to the deaths of at least three individuals.
Following a preliminary investigation into the matter, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed the suspensions. “Dr. Rana and eight other doctors have been suspended,” Minister Patel stated. He elaborated on the alleged financial misconduct, noting, “Normally, clinical trial income is split between doctors and the hospital. But in this case, the entire amount was pocketed by the doctors.”
Among those suspended is Dr. Devang Rana, an MD in pharmacology, who holds a permanent position as an associate professor at the NHL Municipal Medical College and was appointed head of clinical trials at V.S. Hospital in 2021. The other eight suspended doctors were reportedly employed on contractual terms.
The current Superintendent of V.S. Hospital, Parul Shah, has indicated that the controversial trials commenced under her predecessor, Manish Patel.
An internal inquiry by the AMC is currently underway to further investigate the allegations. Officials have stated that further action will be determined based on the findings of this probe.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued the V.S. Hospital over the years, raising concerns about systemic issues within the institution.
- In 2013, the hospital was embroiled in a scandal involving the manipulation of receipt books, where staff allegedly inflated charges and pocketed the difference. An AMC Vigilance wing investigation was launched after missing receipt books spanning two years were discovered.
- In 2024, the hospital faced an Rs 8 crore Provident Fund (PF) scam, resulting in a penalty imposed by the PF Commissioner due to unauthorised investments made by the then Medical Superintendent, S. Malhan. Concerns were raised about accountability when demands for a police investigation were reportedly not pursued.
- The current controversy, described as a massive clinical trial scam uncovered in 2025, allegedly involved unauthorised drug trials on over 500 patients conducted in collaboration with more than 50 pharmaceutical companies. Payments from these companies were purportedly diverted directly into the personal accounts of the involved doctors without proper ethical oversight.
The ongoing investigation aims to shed more light on the extent of the alleged irregularities and determine the future course of action.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided from a single source (IANS) dated prior to the current time. Details regarding the ongoing investigation and any subsequent findings may evolve.
