Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of deaths due to serious adverse events (SAEs) during drug trials, while Madhya Pradesh saw the least number of such deaths.
According to data disclosed by the Drug Controller-General of India, during the 49-month period (January 2008-January 2012), the country recorded 2,061 drug trial-related deaths. But data has been given only for 1,603 of the 2,061 deaths.
Maharashtra recorded the maximum number of 268 deaths to stand first among the top five States.
It is followed by Andhra Pradesh (153), Delhi/National Capital Region (97), Gujarat (87) and Karnataka (78).
Tamil Nadu, accounting for 46 deaths, Rajasthan (43), West Bengal (28), Uttar Pradesh (28) and Madhya Pradesh (26) bring up the bottom five.
The number of deaths in Maharashtra was over 10 times that of Madhya Pradesh, which is the lowest among the top 10 States.
Partial data
The data was obtained by medical rights activist Anand Rai under the Right to Information Act.
“I asked for the number of drug trial-related deaths for the entire country, listed by the States, the trial site, the drug name [and] the investigator. However, the Drug Controller-General provided the full information for only 1,010 deaths out of the total of 2,061,” he told The Hindu .