Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) has directed all its departments to stop ongoing projects or clinical trials undertaken without approval of the competent authority and has asked them to seek approvals before any research or clinical trial is undertaken.
The circular, issued on October 28 by GMC Dean Dr Pradeep Naik, says that necessary administration and financial approvals from the competent authority are required to undertake research or clinical trial and that there is need of approval from the Ethics Committee.
“Undertaking such projects/trial without approval of competent authority attracts the provisions of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964,” the circular mentions.
In September two doctors, Dr A M Mesquita, Professor and Head of Pulmonary Medicine Department and Assistant Professor Dr Lalita Fernandes of the GMC were suspended after an inquiry by the Vigilance Directorate into the alleged unauthorized clinical trials undertaken by the duo. They have been accused of financial misconduct running into lakhs of rupees while conducting the trials.
They have also been accused of conducting over a dozen such trials for a couple of years. The issue was also raised in the Goa Assembly during the monsoon session.
