Pfizer drug trial victims start to receive compensation

By Admin
People in Nigeria have started to receive long-awaited compensation payments from Pfizer after a botched drug trial. Eleven children died and dozens mo...

People in Nigeria have started to receive long-awaited compensation payments from Pfizer after a botched drug trial.

Eleven children died and dozens more developed disabilities during a 1996 trial of an experimental drug treatment for meningitis.

Four families have received $175,000 in the first batch of payouts after they obtained DNA evidence their children’s deaths were caused from the trial.

READ MORE FROM THE WDM CONTENT NETWORK:

To read the latest edition of Healthcare Global, click here

However, the company has been criticised for only compensating four families in the initial round of payouts despite 200 children taking part in the trial.

The money for the compensation has come from a $35 million fund created as part of the settlement between Pfizer and the northern Kano state in Nigeria where the trial took place.

As part of the settlement Pfizer has also agreed to fund health projects in the Kano region.

However, the company is still insistent the deaths were caused by meningitis and not the drugs it was testing.

In a statement the pharmaceutical company said: “This is the first step in a multi-phase review process by which the independent board of trustees that manages the fund will deliver payment to all other qualified claimants.

“We thank them for their commitment and dedication to seeing this process through in the most timely and transparent way possible.”

Share

Featured Articles

Mental health support for working women and mothers

Dr. Kylie Bennett, Mental Health Program Director at Dialogue, is committed to supporting women in the workplace - especially Mothers - and their health

Digital evolution delivers better healthcare outcomes

Hannah Graham, Group Account Director at digital transformation consultancy Equator, shares how digitisation is building positive changes in healthcare

Hyfe AI uses acoustic AI in its digital cough monitoring

Hyfe uses acoustic AI in its digital cough monitoring. Dr. Joe Brew, Co-Founder & CEO of Hyfe AI, tells us more about coughing technology post-COVID-19

Siemens: smart finance to help medical technology growth

Technology & AI

Healthcare Digital news roundup: prostate cancer & AI

Medical Devices & Pharma

Lexica shares post-COVID-19 digital healthcare trends

Digital Healthcare