Drug trial victims get no government aid

The district administration which promised two acres of land, house site, pension and bank loan, to the kin of drug trial victims, has failed to fulfil even a single promise so far.

It came to light after the death of Aila Narasimha Rao, a drug trial victim, on November 9. The kin of Narasimha Rao, a lorry driver of Piduguralla, who allegedly died of adverse reaction of the drugs administered to him by the Axis Clinicals Limited of Hyderabad, are demanding that the government pay a compensation to them.

It may be recalled here that the then collector VN Vishnu promised 2 acres of cultivable land, house site, pensions and bank loan to the all the victims of drug trials in 2011.

In all, 21 clinical trial victims met district collector S Suresh Kumar two days ago and submitted a memorandum to him seeking aid. The victims are suffering from different health problems.

“Poverty forced us to agree to undergo the clinical trials. Agents of pharmaceutical companies lured us with huge amount of money if we underwent the clinical trials,“ said Vadde Nagalakshmi, a victim.

“We have not received any kind of help from the government so far,” said another clinical trial victim Yesupovu Bhagyamma.

Responding to the memorandum submitted to him, Suresh Kumar directed the authorities concerned to submit a status report on provision of aid to the drug trial victims.

He reiterated that the government was committed to extension of all possible help to the victims.