The government will further streamline the procedures for conducting clinical trials of drugs in the country. It will also set up an Experts Committee to analyze the cause of injury or death and recommend compensation to victims of trial-related deaths.

This was stated by the Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad in his reply to a Calling Attention motion on the situation arising out casualties during clinical trials of the drugs in the Rajya Sabha today.

The statement was laid on the table of the House by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Sudip Bandyopadhyay amidst noisy scenes by the BJP members on coal blocks allocation issue. It said the government also proposes to incorporate certain new provisions in the rules for clinical trials.

The statement said the proposed Committee of Experts would give its recommendations for compensation in case of injury or death during clinical trials to the Drug Controller of India (DCGI), which will decide the final amount within three months. The sponsor will provide medical care to the person concerned as long as required.