Pharmaceutical giants accused of using destitute Egyptians in tests

A Dutch NGO has released a scathing report accusing global pharmaceutical companies of using destitute Egyptians in "unethical" drug trials.

The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations [SOMO] accused Swiss healthcare giants of using Egyptians from lower-incomes as test subjects for clinical trials for cancer and hepatitis C treatment.

"This study brings new evidence that unethical practices occur in [transnational pharmaceutical company] sponsored clinical trials conducted in Egypt," SOMO said.

"The drugs tested in Egypt are not systematically available to and mostly unaffordable for the Egyptian population with a significant proportion of people living in poverty, and a public health insurance system that covers only half of the population, Egyptians face problems accessing medicines," the NGO said.

Although the Egyptians were willing participants, poverty had forced them to make the difficult choice of becoming subjects of trials to recieve medical attention, the group claimed.

SOMO added that the companies should make sure that the medications tested in these countries are available at an affordable price for the population.

Egypt hosts the second highest number of pharmaceutical clinical trials in Africa.

In February, there were 57 international drug trials taking place in Egypt with over half of them for cancer medication.

Egypt has the highest prevalence of viral hepatitis C in the world, while poverty and overcrowding has made many Egyptians vulnerable to numerous diseases.