Kerala’s SAT Hospital denies allegations of ‘clinical trials of drugs’ given to SMA-afflicted children
SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, a leading tertiary level pediatric healthcare institution in the state’s public sector and one of the country’s select centers of excellence for rare diseases, has come under fire following allegations of “clinical trial drugs” administered to children affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
As opposition political parties intend to continue their campaign for the use of “experimental drugs” in SMA patients, SAT Hospital Superintendent I. Riaz has appealed to all and sundry not to undermine the government’s efforts to make the SMA drug available to more patients.
According to him, the decision to provide SMA patients with a cheaper, generic version of the original anti-SMA molecule instead of the imported original drug, which costs several crores of rupees per vial, was taken by a technical committee comprising experts in the field.
The procurement procedures started under the previous government have been completed by the current government. The drug meets all regulatory requirements and quality standards, added Dr. Riaz.
‘baseless rumours’
Dr. Riaz appealed to everyone to stop spreading baseless rumors about the generic SMA drug and putting patients and their families in a state of anxiety. He pointed out that the drug has been available over the counter for almost a year and is already being used by several SMA patients. Arguing that it was an experimental drug just when the government started distributing it for free was absurd.
Several health experts have pointed out that quality generics are the only way to make expensive drugs available to large numbers of people. If people can voluntarily take generic oncology drugs, then it was hypocritical to find fault with the generic version of the SMA drug itself.
Financial aid
The Superintendent also condemned the attempts of vested interests to link the financial assistance given to Natco Pharma under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to renovate one of the wards at SAT Hospital with the distribution of generic SMA drug.
SAT Hospital Health Education Society (SATHHES) regularly receives CSR funds from various agencies, public and private sector institutions and individuals to implement development projects related to patient care in the hospital.
On March 25, 2026, the then Superintendent of the SAT Hospital wrote to Natco requesting their assistance in renovating the isolation ward at the hospital.
After a visit and assessment by company representatives, Natco Pharma transferred ₹ 25 lakhs as first installment to SATHHES account. Company representatives subsequently visited the hospital in the first week of August to meet with the Minister of Health and hand over confirmation of the contribution.
Attempts to paint this in relation to Natco’s generic SMA drug administered at SAT Hospital are malicious and ill-intentioned, said Dr. Riaz.
It was common for agencies, firms and public sector institutions providing CSR funds to hand them over and take photographs in the presence of the health minister or the chief minister, he added.
Instead of spreading baseless allegations, there should be more support for the efforts of the government and SAT Hospital to ensure the welfare of SMA patients, said Dr. Riaz.
Published – 22 Oct 2026 22:02 IST