The slightest of violations in research and clinical trials will not be tolerated, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said as he assured to take the inquiry to logical conclusion. A day after Herald blew the lid on the clinical trials and medical research projects, Rane held a series of meetings on the issue. 
GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Health Secretary and Director of Health were present for the meeting. Rane also met Chief Secretary on the issue later. 
“I am studying the matter and will go to the root of the issue. Just that I need some time,” he said. The Health Minister, however, virtually gave a clean chit to the NGO Sangath saying it is a reputed organisation. “I know Dr Vikram Patel and I don’t think they are involved in anything,” he said.
On Dr Amit Dias, he said, “The entire day we were busy with these meetings. I am going through the files and papers and let us see what comes out of it. If there are any violations we will suspend him.” He said he has to see the money trail and his exact involvement in the case.
He stated that he has also instructed the officials to get him the details of the Dr A M Mesquita inquiry and so also details of Dr Pradeep Naik research. “I will take a final decision on Dr Mesquita soon. Also Dr Pradeep Naik will not be spared. As a dean he cannot be involved in such things,” he said.
Herald on Sunday broke the major scam ‘Goan patients used as guinea pigs for research’. Herald exposed how clinical trials and medical research are being carried by over a dozen faculty members keeping the government in the dark.
Though permissions were taken, they could be termed fraudulent as the doctors were part of the GMC Ethics Committee that approved the projects.
Also, the doctors did not disclose the source of funding (local or foreign) and the research details. The doctors teamed up with non-government organisations and routed the funds through them.