NATIONAL11 [ (Spotlight Weelky)]

Controversy Continues

As the Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan Corporation (LSMC) sticks to its guns, the vaccine trial of hepatitis E gets hindered

By A CORRESPONDENT

LSMC : Creating obstruction ?

The vaccine trial by the Walter Reed/AFRIMS Research Unit Nepal (WARUN) is getting derailed as the Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan Corporation (LSMC) seems bent on having its way.

A separate board was formed couple of weeks ago by the LSMC to "review" the trial, which was given approval by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) and Department for Drug Administration (DDA) to test the Hepatitis E vaccines.

But after meeting a few times, the board is itself caught in controversy as the Deputy Mayor of LSMC Ramesh Chitrakar, who was instrumental to forming the board, is now calling for its dissolution.

"The board was formed so that we could reach into some agreements. But there seemed no point in keeping this board alive as the understandings reached during its meeting were getting breached," says Chitrakar.

According to Chitrakar, the WARUN can not conduct vaccine trial in the city unless it fully informs the public about the risks involved. "It is the right of the public to be fully informed. Besides, the researchers have not guaranteed essential insurance provisions for people on the trial."

Dr. Robert Scott, the head of station of WARUN, however, denies Chitrakar's allegations. He says the prospective people (to be put on trial) were supplied with adequate information and reading materials covering all issues related to vaccine trial. "We are very much aware of people's right to be informed. That is why we had stressed for informed consent of people before putting them up for trial."

Officials at the Health Ministry, too, believe that the issue has been unnecessarily politicized. "We had given approval for the vaccine trial to WARUN after reviewing their proposal thoroughly," said an official at the Nepal Health Research Council.

Chitrakar, however, says that the said approval was for testing only the 44 people and not the three thousand. Refuting that he politicized the issue, Chitrakar said, "I am a politician and I have to look for the interest of the people who have elected me. I cannot put the lives of my people in jeopardy at any cost."

According to Chitrakar, the project of vaccine trial could be stopped if it did not address the concerns raised by the municipality. "Anyway, Hepatitis E is not that much of a health concern to our people as it is made out to be. By ensuring safe drinking water, we can prevent this disease from affecting the people in the first place."

Dr. Scott says that the WARUN has done everything that is required by international conventions and practices before any vaccine is put on trial. "It is the international practice to avoid pregnant women from any vaccine trial. But here this point has been misrepresented by spreading rumors that people can not have sex or become pregnant during the period they are on trial," he said.

Furthermore, Chitrakar argues that in case the vaccine trial is successful, certain percent of the profits earned by the pharmaceutical company should be given to the local community.

As the LSMC is engaged in activities deterring the WARUN's vaccine trial, health experts have expressed concern that such unwarranted campaign could result in the shelving of the project itself.