Illegal Trials on Patients Suspected: Doubt Over 740 Deaths in Gujarat

New Delhi: There is suspicion that 740 deaths in Gujarat were the result of unauthorised stem cell therapy. This revelation comes from a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

According to the report, between 1999 and 2017, 741 out of 2,352 patients who underwent stem cell therapy at the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, a state government- owned institution, died.

The therapy reportedly failed in 91 per cent of the patients. Kidney transplantation failed in 569 patients, and in 110 patients, the procedure could not be performed due to complications. The CAG pointed out that since the National Apex Committee had not approved the therapy, it was discontinued at the centre after 2017.

This revelation came to light following reports that doctors at the Ahmedabad Corporation Hospital had illegally profited from conducting drug trials. In response, the Drugs Controller General of India recently banned the hospital from conducting further clinical trials. Between 2021 and 2025, nearly 500 patients were subjected to drug trials without approval, involving around 50 pharmaceutical companies.