Principal Opposition TDP today asked Andhra Pradesh Government to immediately file criminal cases against pharmaceutical firms that used humans as ‘guinea pigs’ and also pay Rs 2 lakh as compensation to each victim.
The party also wanted a committee to be constituted to probe into the activities of these pharmaceutical companies.
In a statement here, TDP women legislators Jonnakuti Vanita, K Lalita Kumari, D Anasuya and Hemalatha said the Congress Government had turned a blind eye to the activities of the pharma companies though instances of humans being used as ‘guinea pigs’ for clinical trials had come to light earlier too.
“The instances of humans being used as guinea pigs for clinical trials have increased in the State in the last four years. Previously such cases were reported from Vizianagaram and Khammam districts but the State government failed to take any action, throwing the responsibility on the Centre,” they said.
The lackadaisical attitude of the Government was encouraging pharma companies to go ahead with their illegal acts, they stated, adding as a result, poor and gullible people, particularly in rural areas, were falling victims to these firms.
The Government yesterday sought a report from health officials on clinical trials allegedly conducted by a pharma company on a group of poor women in Guntur who later complained of side effects.
