PANJIM: Hours after the exposure by Herald, the State government swung into action and demanded an inquiry from the authorities on the whole research and clinical trials episode.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, speaking to Herald, disclosed that he has asked a detailed explanation from the Health Secretary.
“I have called a high-level meeting tomorrow wherein the Health Secretary and the Dean will be present and if need be we will also consider calling the Chief Secretary as the issue is of that magnitude,” he said adding “I have told the Secretary and Dean to give preliminary report by tomorrow morning and a thorough detailed report within eight days on the research and clinical trials”.
Rane said that if he finds even the smallest of things not right he would take strong action.
“I was the one who stopped the foreign trips of Dr Amit Dias after I took over as there were many complaints about his leaves and tours,” he said.
Pointing to the former Dean Dr Pradeep Naik’s inaction, he said, he will inquire into that as well.
“If I find something wrong then both will be suspended immediately. But for that I have to be right on facts and just cannot rely on media report,” he says adding “this government’s administration is transparent and I am accountable to my CM, who himself is a doctor.”
The minister said he has the Diabetes retinotherapy file of Dr Naik with him and will take him just minutes to suspend him.
“I cannot forgive him for missing those 26 post-graduate seats,” he stated.
About the status of inquiry into Dr Mesquita’s case, Rane said, he has called for all files and the status report.
“I will get these things checked before the assembly starts tomorrow,” he adds.
About NGO Sangath’s involvement, he said, “I can’t comment on that as it is a reputed organisation and Vikram Patel who is heading it is now a faculty on Harward.”
Herald in its Sunday edition broke the major scam “Goan patients used as guinea pigs for research”.
Herald exposed how the clinical trials and medical research are being carried by over a dozen faculty members keeping government in dark.
Though permissions were taken, they could be termed as fraudulently as Dr Amit Dias and Dr AM Mesquita were part of GMC Ethics committee which approved the projects.
Also, the doctors never disclosed the source of funding (local or foreign) and the research details.
The doctors teamed up with non-government organisations and routed the funds through them.
