Two of the eight Indian scientists — S Upadhyay of Banaras Hindu University and MA Thirunarayan of Apollo Hospitals Chennai — who participated in the superbug research pleaded ignorance.
In the wake of the superbug controversy, the government has decided to block export of “sensitive biological material” and tighten the noose around scientists who do not seek necessary clearances before sending such material out.
Two of the eight Indian scientists — S Upadhyay of Banaras Hindu University and MA Thirunarayan of Apollo Hospitals Chennai — who participated in the superbug research pleaded ignorance of rules against export of biological material, but the government refused to buy the argument.
“I don’t think any scientist would not know about such rules,” health secretary K Sujatha Rao said.
“While we encourage research, we want scientists to follow protocol. Biological material cannot be transported out without permission. Even we don’t allow import of such material without permission. It can be harmful. It can be used for many purposes, including genotyping,” she said.
Rao denied Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) notices were meant to “harass” Indians who participated in the superbug research. “These scientists have been given 15 days to respond. Even if they are found guilty, they may be let off with a warning, but the health ministry plans to lay down stricter norms for future,” she said.
Upset at the findings of the superbug theory published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal which said the New Delhi metallo-beta lactamase-1 (NDM-1) was resistant to all antibiotics, including the world’s strongest antibiotic Carbapenem, DGCI had issued notices to Indian scientists involved in the study for violation of rules and sending biological material outside the country without permission.
In the wake of this study which highlighted India’s poor antibiotic compliance, the health ministry is working out a new policy. Rao said in the absence of a policy or guidelines, antibiotics were being used indiscriminately by both doctors and the public. While doctors prescribe antibiotics randomly without assessing the need, people casually pop the pills and do not complete the course. The government has formed a 13-member committee to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, doctors at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital, who have been acknowledged in the Lancet article for sending positive strains of the superbug, claimed they did not send any samples of NDM-1.
“We never sent any strains. In fact, we have had no communication with Lancet,” Gustad Davar, the hospital’s medical director, said. He said Hinduja Hospital’s study was independent and was published in Journal of the Association of Physicians of India.
“A lot of permissions are required to send strains out,” Davar said, adding that he would write to Lancet on Saturday.
(With inputs from Deepa Suryanarayan)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}