Gujarat’s Medical Horror: Nation’s Biggest Clinical Trial Scam Exposed – Over 500 Poor Patients Used as Lab Rats Without Consent
A shocking clinical trial scandal has surfaced in Gujarat, where over 500 impoverished patients were unknowingly subjected to unauthorized drug testing. Spanning nearly 25 years, this multi-layered scam reveals a disturbing nexus between pharma firms, political figures, and a public hospital.
Special Correspondent | New Delhi Post | New Delhi:
Bogus Trials in the Name of Research
A massive unethical clinical trial operation was conducted at Vadilal Sarabhai (VS) Hospital in Ahmedabad. More than 500 poor patients suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes and joint pain were used for experimental drug testing — without consent, transparency, or official clearance.
At the center of this controversy is S4 Research Pvt Ltd, an Ahmedabad-based company that signed a 25-year agreement with VS Hospital. The agreement was allegedly made without any official clearance and forged with fake signatures of hospital officials.
Forged MoUs and Phantom Employees
According to documents, S4 Research Pvt Ltd, led by directors Ali Sajjad Bohra, Deepali Swarnkar, and Akshay Shah, entered into a questionable memorandum of understanding with VS Hospital effective from November 29, 2024.
The company’s website shows conflicting details — one mentions 11 employees, another lists 47. No explanation has been offered for this glaring discrepancy. Despite its dubious setup, the firm claims to assist pharmaceutical companies in patient recruitment, especially in cost-sensitive emerging markets like Asia.
No Approval from CDSCO or DCGI
Clinical trials in India require mandatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). In this case, neither agency was informed, making the trials clearly illegal and in direct violation of national medical laws.
Profit Over Patients: Poor Made Guinea Pigs
Around 500 underprivileged patients were administered unapproved medications for various illnesses under the pretext that “government-supplied drugs are unavailable” and they were being offered “new, high-quality private medicines.”
Two victims — Kajalben (name changed), a construction worker, and Vinodbhai (name changed), a laborer suffering from joint pain — revealed that doctors pressured them into accepting these medications. Most patients weren’t informed that they were part of any clinical research.
Scam Uncovered by a Brave Woman Councillor
The scam was exposed by Rajshree Kesari, a young municipal councillor, who stated:
“This isn’t just a medical scam — it’s a political conspiracy. I’ve demanded an FIR and will raise the issue in today’s Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation meeting. These 500 victims deserve justice.”
Fake Ethics Committee and Complicit Doctors
The hospital reportedly set up a fake Ethics Committee that approved trials for private pharmaceutical companies in exchange for huge sums. Investigating officials confirmed that millions of rupees were funneled through this sham setup.
As per the Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA), responsibility for obtaining patient consent lay with CBCC Global Research (Ahmedabad) and Dr. Dhavat Shukla, the principal investigator. The agreement also mentions VS Hospital, an account handler named Nishant Kumar Singh, and another firm named SM Company.
What the Korean Company Knew – The Contract Details
A South Korean company, Caregen Co. Ltd., funded the trial. According to the CTA, the trial’s goal was to assess the impact of “Deglusterol” on fasting glucose and cardio-metabolic risks in type-2 diabetic patients.
The agreement clearly stated that patients must be fully informed, and provided with free treatment, medicines, lodging, and travel — none of which were implemented.
Fake Approvals and Backdated Documents
A letter dated June 26, 2023, on the letterhead of Sangini Hospital’s Ethics Committee, approved an agreement that was officially signed five months later, in November 2024 — a clear indication of backdated, fabricated documentation.
Role of Hospital Administration
One key figure, Dr. Devang Rana, a senior doctor at VS Hospital, has been terminated. He allegedly earned lakhs through the trial, including a ₹8.73 lakh invoice raised in his name.
Another individual, former hospital superintendent Manish Shah, mysteriously resigned and moved into the real estate sector. While at least six more doctors are reportedly involved, no action has been taken against them as yet.
Conclusion: A Crime Beyond Consent
This case is not just a violation of medical ethics — it’s a betrayal of trust and a systemic abuse of power. Exploiting poverty, these organizations ran an underground medical racket masked as research. With political silence and regulatory failure, justice for the 500+ victims now rests on public pressure and judicial action.
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