Unqualified staff mixing cancer drugs at HCG hosp

Internal audit flags glaring breach of protocol, operational lapses

- RISHITA KHANNA @ Bengaluru

AN internal audit committee commissioned to assess the quality of clinical research at HCG Hospital found that a phlebotomist — someone trained only to draw blood — was assigned the role of an "unblinded staff member" responsible for managing and mixing investigational cancer drugs in a clinical trial. This serious breach of protocol, which requires a qualified pharmacist for any drug preparation, was among several alarming lapses flagged in the audit.

The review, sources told this newspaper, came to an abrupt halt after auditors were asked to stop midway by site staff, reportedly on the instructions of Dr. Sathish CT, Director of Clinical Trials at HCG.