Nine Physicians Suspended Amidst Allegations of Clinical Trial Misconduct at Ahmedabad Hospital
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Synopsis
On April 22, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation suspended nine doctors amid allegations of severe irregularities in clinical trials at V.S. Hospital. The accusations include bypassing legal protocols and misappropriating funds, leading to an ongoing internal investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Nine doctors suspended for clinical trial misconduct.
- Allegations of bypassing legal protocols and misappropriating funds.
- Over 500 patients involved in unauthorized trials.
- Internal investigation by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
- Previous controversies highlight systemic issues at V.S. Hospital.
Ahmedabad, April 22 (NationPress) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken action by suspending nine physicians following serious allegations of misconduct concerning clinical trials at the civic body-operated V.S. Hospital, as reported by officials on Tuesday.
This decision is a response to claims that the physicians circumvented necessary legal protocols and misappropriated funds allocated for the hospital.
Officials indicated that instead of establishing a legally required Ethics Committee, the physicians created an unofficial internal group to conduct clinical trials.
The situation came to light after Congress Corporator Rajshree Kesari alleged the deaths of at least three patients over the last four years due to unauthorized clinical trials involving over 500 patients at the facility.
Following an initial investigation, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed the suspension of Dr. Rana and eight other doctors.
"Typically, income from clinical trials is shared between the physicians and the hospital, but in this instance, the doctors retained all funds," Minister Patel stated.
He mentioned that while Dr. Rana is a permanent employee, the remaining eight are on temporary contracts.
Devang Rana, an MD in pharmacology, was appointed as an associate professor at NHL Municipal Medical College and has been heading clinical trials at V.S. Hospital since 2021.
The hospital’s current superintendent, Parul Shah, distanced herself from the scandal, asserting that the trials were initiated under her predecessor, Manish Patel.
An internal investigation by the AMC is ongoing, and subsequent actions will be based on its results.
Over the years, Ahmedabad's V.S. Hospital has faced numerous controversies, showcasing systemic issues within the establishment.
In 2013, the hospital was embroiled in a major scandal regarding the manipulation of receipt books.
Staff were found to have artificially increased charges on official receipts, pocketing the differences.
This malpractice was uncovered when missing receipt books covering two years were discovered, leading to an inquiry by the AMC's Vigilance wing.
A decade later, in 2024, the hospital was involved in an Rs 8 crore Provident Fund (PF) scam.
The PF Commissioner imposed a penalty on the institution for unauthorized investments made by the then Medical Superintendent, S. Malhan.
Despite ongoing calls for a police investigation, the matter was allowed to fade, raising questions about administrative accountability.
More recently, in 2025, a significant clinical trial scam was exposed.
Over 500 patients were subjected to unauthorized drug trials conducted by a group of doctors in collaboration with more than 50 pharmaceutical companies.
These trials were executed without proper ethical supervision, and payments from the companies were reportedly diverted into the personal accounts of the physicians involved.
