Dr.Kunal
Saha, M.D., Ph.D. |
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Bogus
HIV kits: A historic case filed against NACO
Columbus, OH, Aug. 03, 2008
Dr.Kunal Saha, M.D., Ph.D.
A historic lawsuit was filed on August 2, 2008 at the Delhi High
Court against the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) for
their devious role with sub-standard HIV kits that were used in
different Indian hospitals/blood banks during the second national
AIDS control project (NACP-2) between 1999 and 2006. A copy of
the writ petition is attached herewith for your reference. This
writ petition (Diary No. 112454/2008) against Ms. Sujata Rao,
NACO director, and secretary of Ministry of Health has outlined
the deliberate attempts by the NACO leaders to suppress the World
Bank findings of poor quality HIV kits which posed serious danger
of transmitting HIV to the unsuspecting patients through tainted
blood transfusion. The writ petition also underscores the blatant
personal attacks against me to silence my criticism (as a member
of the World Bank team) of the spurious kits used during the NACP-2.
Five principal areas seeking justice that have been highlighted
in this public interest litigation (PIL) are:
- To direct for a CBI investigation of the sub-standard HIV kits
from different manufacturers (as reported by the World Bank) that
were used during NACP-2.
- To take appropriate action against the deliberate attempt by
NACO to suppress the allegations of defective HIV kits during
the NACP-2.
- To take appropriate action for the false claim made by NACO
that the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) verified the standard
of the HIV kits used during the NACP-2.
- To retract the slanderous and baseless personal attacks (made
through a press release on 14th December, 2007 by the Ministry
of Health) against the me because only because I was a member
(medical consultant) of the World Bank team that investigated
and found evidence of bogus HIV kits during the NACP-2.
- To consider the World Bank report (published in January, 2008)
in its true perspective and make every effort to identify and
provide necessary help and compensation for the patients who might
have contracted HIV/AIDS as a result of use of sub-standard HIV
kits in India.
- Despite a reported decline of HIV patients in the recent years,
AIDS has remained as a major threat to the public health in India.
The World Bank investigation report has categorically shown that
rampant fraud and corruption were part and parcel of the AIDS
control programs during the NACP-2. Reports of innocent patients
falling victims to AIDS after receiving blood transfusion also
appear frequently in the news in India lending further credence
to the findings of poor quality HIV kits by the World Bank.
This writ petition is likely to have far reaching consequences
in unraveling the corruption involved with the procurement and
supply of HIV test kits in India. This could also have important
significance on the standard of HIV kits used in India in the
future. Please contact my attorney Mr. R. Venkataraman (Tel: 98100-90030)
for information and senior advocate Mr. M.N. Krishmanani (Tel:
98110-65316) who would argue the case when it comes up for hearing
in the next few days. You can also contact the office of People
for Better Treatment (PBT) (Tel: 98317-83120 or 94323-54586),
a registered, charitable society dedicated to fight medical negligence
in India.
PBT was established after my wife and a child psychologist (Anuradha
Saha) died at an age of only 36, from reckless medical negligence
by several eminent Kolkata doctors during a social visit to
India in 1998. A criminal appeal (two senior doctors were already
convicted and sentenced for rigorous imprisonment in by the trial
court in 2002 for the first time in Indian history) and a separate
civil appeal (for compensation of Rs. 144 crore, highest in
Indian medical history and which would be donated, if and when
I win, entirely for promotion of healthcare in India) are presently
pending before the Supreme Court of India for final adjudication.
Also, feel free to contact me in the US at the numbers below
if you have any further questions. anku1@earthlink.net

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NRI, Dr. Saha filed three cases against the doctors, who were responsible
for his wifes death
Kunal Saha, M.D., Ph.D.
Asst Professor
College of Medicine and Public Health
Pediatrics - Molecular Medicine
Children's Hospital Research
- Compensation claim of Rs.777 million
- Entire compensation amount would be donated for
promotion of health in India
- Supreme Court admits a Rs.1.43 billion compensation
claim by NRI Dr. Kunal - largest medical compensation
claim in Indian history
- Read More
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