Faulty hip transplant patients seek clarity from Health Ministry

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Patients using Johnson and Johnson's allegedly faulty ASR (articular surface replacement) hip implant have written to the Health Ministry expressing concern over the quantum of compensation and seeking clarity.A group of 35 patients, in a letter addressed to Union Health Minister J.P Nadda, asked the centre to come clear on the compensation norms through an official statement.Earlier, there have been reports that the ministry was likely to pay between Rs 33 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore to each victim as compensation."We would like to reiterate our concern regarding the lack of transparency and patient consultation in the compensation process, including lack of information being made available regarding the process of compensation, deliberations of the Arya Committee and the formulation of compensation norms," they said in a statement.The four-member panel headed by R. K. Arya, Director, Sports Injury Centre, Safdarjung Hospital also has Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, Additional Secretary R.K. Vats, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) S. Eswara Reddy.
--IANS som/sed