Centre seeks MP govt's explanation on cotroversial drug trials

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Madhya Pradesh government on the controversial drug trials conducted on patients in the state and asked it to initiate action against the doctors involved.

The inquiry committee sent by the Centre has found "irregularities and today we have asked the State govt to explain why this took place and asked them to take action (against the doctors)," Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, he said the state government had also conducted an inquiry into the incident where two Indore-based doctors had allegedly conducted drug trials without following the protocols laid down by the Medical Council of India and Drug Controller General of India.

Replying to a separate question, he said while the Centre increased the age bar for teachers in medical colleges from 60 to 70 years in view of shortage of teachers, states have not followed suit.

"We increased the age of faculty to 70 from 60 and asked state governments to raise their age to at least 65, but states are not implementing it. Shortage of teachers are the cause for less than required medical colleges."

Addressing the function, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar expressed deep anguish over female foeticide and neglect of the girl child, seeking a more proactive role from doctors to eradicate the menace.