Supreme Court pulls up centre, MP government over illegal drug trials

The Supreme Court today expressing concerns over alleged illegal clinical trial of drugs in the country, said it was "unfortunate" that humans were being treated as "guinea pigs".

A bench headed by justice RM Lodha pulled up the centre and the Madhya Pradesh government for failing to respond to PILs alleging large-scale illegal drug trials in the state and other parts of the country.

The bench said, "There has to be some sense of responsibilty (on the part of the government).

"Human beings are being treated as guinea pigs. This is unfortunate," the bench said, as it gave an additional eight weeks' period for the parties to file their replies.

The bench was hearing two PILs filed by a group of doctors and an NGO which alleged  that illegal and unethical clinical trials were being carried on poor persons including juveniles, tribals and dalits who were used as guinea pigs for testing of drugs and vaccines produced by multinational corporations.

The petitioners also urged the court to order formation a committee of experts, comprising members of civil society especially, the All India Drug Action Network, to examine the present legal provisions concerning clinical trials both in India and abroad and to make recommendations for the framing of guidelines on the issue.