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Ahmedabad: How 15 Doctors Manipulated Financial Terms To ‘Rob’ Rs 1.87 Cr From Civic-Run Hospital

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Ahmedabad: How 15 Doctors Manipulated Financial Terms To ‘Rob’ Rs 1.87 Cr From Civic-Run Hospital (Representative, AI-Generated Image)

Ahmedabad: As many as 15 doctors allegedly diverted Rs 1.87 crore to their accounts, earned from clinical trials at a government hospital in Ahmedabad. The amount was supposed to be transferred to the hospital’s bank account, which ended up receiving a small chunk of the money. According to a senior official investigating the case, instead of getting proper permission, these doctors changed the financial terms in the agreements to keep most of the money for themselves. Meanwhile, the hospital got only a small amount from 58 clinical trials done over four years, reported PTI.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) set up a five-member team in April to look into these irregularities at VS Hospital between 2021 and 2025. This team recently gave its final report to the AMC.

After an initial investigation in April, AMC cancelled the contracts of eight doctors and suspended one doctor who was an associate professor at the government medical college.

“As many as 15 doctors associated with VS Hospital diverted Rs 1.87 crore into their personal bank accounts since 2021. Of these doctors, one has been suspended, eight were terminated, one already retired, and five left the job before the probe began,” said a senior official of the AMC Medical Education Trust (MET).

He said recovery notices were served to these doctors, and four of them have already deposited Rs 6 lakh.

The official said that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had also conducted a parallel probe and noted in its report that administrative and financial rules and regulations were not followed during the clinical trials.

“Ideally, all the money should first come into the hospital’s bank account and then be disbursed to doctors and others as per the set rules. Instead, the doctors created their own rules and asked site management organisations, working as mediators between hospital and pharma firms, to directly deposit money into personal accounts,” he said, the media report added.

Of the 65 clinical trial agreements signed by these doctors since 2021, trials had culminated in 48 agreements, and 10 were underway at the time of the probe, while seven agreements were cancelled or never commenced.

According to the official, the AMC did not find any substance in the allegation that some patients lost their lives during the trials.

What Triggered The Inquiry?

The civic body had initiated an inquiry after Congress corporator Rajshree Kesari in April alleged that three patients died at VS Hospital in four years due to illegal clinical trials.

Kesari had claimed that although 500 patients underwent clinical trials at the hospital in four years, the head of the clinical trial department, Dr Devang Rana, and others siphoned off the fee amount from four pharmaceutical companies.

Following a preliminary probe, the AMC suspended Dr Rana and terminated the contracts of eight other doctors who were part of the clinical trial team.

Dr Rana, an MD, served as an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology at NHL Municipal Medical College and was appointed head of clinical trials in VS Hospital in 2021.

The hospital’s superintendent, Dr Parul Shah, had claimed in April that clinical trials had been permanently stopped in December 2024 after the hospital management learnt about the irregularities.

Instead of forming an official Ethics Committee as mandated by law, Dr Rana and the then superintendent of the hospital, Dr Manish Patel, had created a committee of doctors and started conducting clinical trials, she said.





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Ethics & Policy

Morocco Signs Deal to Build National Responsible AI Platform

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Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform signed an agreement Thursday with the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP) to develop a national platform for responsible artificial intelligence.

The deal, signed in Rabat by Minister Delegate Amale Falah and CNDP President Omar Seghrouchni, will guide the design of large language models tailored to Morocco’s language, culture, legal framework, and digital identity.

Officials said the initiative will provide citizens, businesses, and government agencies with safe generative AI tools that protect fundamental rights. The ministry called the agreement a “strategic step” toward AI sovereignty, ethics, and responsibility, positioning Morocco as a digital leader in Africa and globally.



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Santa Fe Ethics Board Discusses Revisions to City Ethics Code

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In a recent meeting of the Ethics and Campaign Review Board in Santa Fe, members discussed the importance of maintaining ethical standards in local governance and the potential need for revisions to the city’s ethics code. The meeting, held on September 12, 2025, highlighted concerns about the clarity and enforcement of existing ethics rules, particularly regarding harassment and the influence of city counselors on staff operations.

One of the key discussions centered around a motion to dismiss a complaint due to a lack of legal sufficiency, emphasizing the board’s commitment to ensuring that candidates adhere to ethical guidelines during their campaigns. Members expressed the need for candidates to be vigilant about compliance to avoid unnecessary hearings that detract from their campaigning efforts.

The board also explored the possibility of revising the city’s ethics code to address gaps in current regulations. A member raised concerns about the potential for counselors to interfere with city staff, suggesting that clearer rules could help delineate appropriate boundaries. Additionally, the discussion touched on the need for stronger provisions against discrimination, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current political climate.

The board acknowledged that while the existing ethics code is a solid foundation, there is room for improvement. With upcoming changes in city leadership, members agreed that now is an opportune time to consider these revisions. The conversation underscored the board’s role as an independent body capable of addressing ethical concerns that may not be adequately resolved within the current city structure.

As the board continues to deliberate on these issues, the outcomes of their discussions could significantly impact how ethics are managed in Santa Fe, ensuring that the city remains committed to transparency and accountability in governance.



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Santa Fe Campaign Committee Discusses Ethics and Social Media Impact on Elections

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The Santa Fe Ethics and Campaign Review Board convened on September 12, 2025, to address critical updates regarding campaign regulations and ethical standards in light of the city’s strong mayor system. The meeting highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of existing campaign laws, particularly in relation to the increasing influence of social media on elections.

Board members expressed concerns that the current regulations may not adequately address the evolving landscape of political campaigning, especially with the rise of social media as a primary platform for candidate outreach. Discussions emphasized the importance of ensuring free and transparent elections, with members noting that traditional campaign signs are now supplemented—and sometimes overshadowed—by digital platforms.

In response to these challenges, the board proposed the formation of two subcommittees: one focused on ethics and the other on campaign regulations. This structure aims to facilitate thorough research and discussion, allowing for the development of proposals to be presented at future meetings. The urgency of these discussions was underscored by the upcoming election cycle, although members acknowledged that significant changes might not be feasible before the new officials take office in January.

Public input was also welcomed, with a county commissioner urging the board to consider existing regulations from other jurisdictions to enhance local campaign rules. The board plans to reconvene in November to continue its work, with hopes of refining the campaign framework in time for future elections.

As the board moves forward, the implications of these discussions could reshape the political landscape in Santa Fe, ensuring that campaign practices remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing environment.



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