Ignorance leads to unethical drug trials on humans

Kerala University of Health and Allied Sciences Vice-Chancellor K. Mohandas has said that ignorance of ethical guidelines among healthcare professionals is leading to unethical practices in clinical drug trials.



He was speaking after releasing a book �Guidelines for Ethical Standards in Clinical Drug Trials on Human Participants� published by Jananeethi Institute, here on Monday.



The book contains internationally-recognised guidelines and declarations on human trials in a nutshell.



Thrissur Government Medical College Principal K. Praveen Lal stressed the need for indigenous clinical trials of medicines prescribed in the country. �Most of the drugs used in the county were field tested elsewhere in the world. India has different climatic zones and people with different genetic characteristics. Only domestic trials can assure preferred results of medicines,� he said.



Dr. S. Criton highlighted lack of quality medical research works in the State. Dr. E. Divakaran, Dr. P. Bhanumathy, V. K. Sharaffuddin, Dr. K. Ajith Kumar, Dr. K. G. Radhakrishnan and Prof. N. N. Gokuldas spoke.



The book notes that India has become a global hot spot for drug trials. The large population, absence of restrictive regulations, comparatively low cost and ignorance among the public about legal and ethical issues of human trials are the major attractions.



Medical researchers and companies should strictly follow the Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on Human Subjects issued by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and register in the Clinical trial registry, it says.