The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the union health secretary, drug controller general of India, chief secretary to the government of Andhra Pradesh and district magistrate, Hyderabad over unauthorised drug trials on six women in Andhra Pradesh.

The commission has taken cognisance of the issue quoting media reports alleging that six women in Andhra Pradesh have been victims of an unauthorised trial.

According to these reports, 25 women in Guntur were lured in for testing a cancer drug by a Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company. After taking the drug six women had to be hospitalized for complications.

The commission also mentioned reports saying that there is no effective law to monitor clinical trials in the country which make it a hotspot for foreign pharma companies to circumvent rules gainst products testing in their home countries.

The commission has called for detailed reports within four weeks. It has also asked its director deneral (investigation) to depute a team to inquire into the matter and submit its report.