That medical companies fleece you even in death has come to light as the Union health ministry has said only 75 of the 2,868 lives lost during clinical have received compensation, that too much lower—with the minimum being a paltry Rs 50,0000, than promised. Of the total deaths taking place during clinical trials of drugs, 89 cases or just 3 percent – are attributable to ill-effects of drugs during such experiments. According to the data from the Union health ministry, companies have yet to pay compensation in 14 cases of death caused due to clinical trials of drugs, some of which are pending since 2005.
Drug companies participating in clinical trials of drugs in the country have paid compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to a maximum of Rs 20 lakh since 2005 to those dying due to the adverse effects of drugs tried on them. Though 436 people died during clinical trials in the country in 2012, only 16 were attributed directly to such experiments. Of these, compensation has been paid in only 12 cases and for three others it is still under process. While the minimum compensation of Rs 50,000 was paid by Sun Pharma for a life lost during such trials, the maximum of Rs 5.26 lakh was paid by Quintiles for another life lost.
According to data provided in the form of an affidavit by Union health secretary in a court this year, the ministry has admitted that around 11,972 serious adverse events (excluding death) were reported during the period from January 1, 2005 to June 30, 2012, out of which 506 events were found to be related to clinical trials. Such cases were mainly related to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal-related problems.
