BANGALORE: Speaking at a press conference organised by Manipal Hospitals, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, said clinical trials should be as per procedures. Reacting to the Apex Court’s notice to Central government on a plea seeking investigation into illegal and unethical clinical trials, he maintained that the clinical trials were one of the major concerns.
He said they were important to do research in medical fraternity, and also it was necessary to follow the procedures laid down by the government and obtain permission from the state and Central government before undertaking such trials on human beings.
He also said that trials were being performed on young girls without their consent in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, for alleged research on cervical cancer.
Regarding Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), the minister said that the government was taking all adequate steps to bring down the IMR and MMR in the country.
“Though government provides `5,000 grants to vaccinate about 10 crore children every year, only half of them are getting the aid, which is the main cause for high IMR,” the minister said.