Supreme Court spotlight on illegal drug trials by MNCs

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre’s response on conducting an independent inquiry into alleged illegal clinical trials of untested drugs by pharmaceutical companies in various states.

A bench of Justice RM Lodha and Justice HL Gokhale issued a notice to the Centre as also to the Health Ministry and the Medical Council of India seeking replies on a PIL alleging that the country is being used for illegal clinical trials by the multinational corporation as laws are not implemented strictly.

The PIL was filed by Indore-based NGO Swasthya Adhikar Manch seeking appointment of a panel to regulate the trials done by multinational pharma companies.