|
The Pfizer's Compensation Bottlenecks in Nigeria By Isa Muhammad Inuwa History of the Pfizer multinational drugs firm's test of its Trovan product on children, patients of the Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Nigeria's city of Kano in 1996, seems to have been all-through, enmeshed in remarkable mysteries, horrifying ironies and of course, some questionable, dilatory game-plans. Barely one to two years of Pfizer's treatment bargain, some pathetic side effects of the then, trial drug, began to manifest its horrible signs in the serial deaths and physical deformities of the children treated with the ill-fated Trovan drug. However, as the protracted legal battle went tough and the Pfizer could no longer withstand the heated 12-years encounter, it (Pfizer through its attorneys), sought for a more amicable out-of-court settlement of the right of about 200 enlisted victims affected by the drug test, some of whom have already died of the drug test saga. This led to suspension of the lingering court case in August 2009, on the understanding that the claimants would be compensated for their damages, within the shortest possible time. However, to the dismay of many observers, about six months have passed now; none of the Pfizer victims has yet sniffed the minutest amount of compensation of any sort from the Pfizer. Instead, about 4.7 million dollars has been commandeered to members of the settlement committees, in the guise of logistic fund to enable them run the secretariat, through which settlement processes would be effected. In spite of earlier deadline of May 2010, set as the end of the period for which the settlement, including the establishement of health facilities projects were supposed to be completed, indications on ground and the lackadaisical manner with which the processes are moving, showed that it is hardly possible to finish everything within the allocated time frame. In a recent press interview with the chairman compensation committee, Honourable Justice Bashir Wali, he stated that they still had a long way to go, noting that they would start the DNA test and screening of the victims, hopefully, in March and they are likely to finish everything by November. A lot of other gimmicks and delay tactics appeared to have heightened tension and anxiety of the long awaiting victims, who seem to be seriously concerned and aware of the questionable game plan. With the pool of data they have labored to gather over the years, which also serve as their rallying reference-point before the court of law, leadership of the Trovan drug victims in Kano are keenly, but worriedly following every step in the so-called settlement exercise. The last one month, the group of Pfizer claimants, together with additional other candidates invited from the public, have submitted the data forms they were issued to fill, as preparatory to the compensation. Some last few weeks, the Pfizer officials brought exhibit materials from America, which were supposed to be the proofs of medical treatment on the Trovan victims, as believed and acceptable to the Pfizer itself. It is however confusing and doubtable to note that no any DNA result sheet was among the materials. Likewise, only some 50 pictures of patients, as contrary to 200 earlier accepted by the Pfizer, were brought. The Pfizer officials also brought only 13 patients cards among the exhibit materials, in contrast to 600 application forms the committee chairman earlier claimed, were filled and submitted to them. In a later version given by the same chairman, he beat down the figure to only 270 forms, (not 600 forms), submitted before his compensation committee. Another point whereby the Pfizer appeared to be contradicting its stand is evidenced by an affidavit sworn by a legal practitioner Mrs Ada Okorafor, in support of “originating motion”, in which it was clearly stated that the Pfizer has actually treated a total of 1443 patients, with various of its drugs, including the Trovan drug, suspected of causing the said damage. Part of the affidavit text reads as follows: “At the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH)Kano, during the periopd of the epidemic when the trial took place,… bringing the total number of patients treated to 1441 patients”. Until much later, when this information filtered out, the Pfizer has all along, stucked to its position of affecting only 100 victins, and later shifted ground to 200 patients. On its part, the Kano Trovan victims group, has never demanded anything above its investigated number of 192 victims. Then, why is Pfizer still applying dodge tactics to shun the burden it has earlier agreed to bear, before the court ofr law? Additionally, the strange connivance between the two independent committees of compensation, under Honourable Retired Justice Bashir Wali and that of project, under Professor Shehu Galadanchi, instead of each committee to dedicate on its assigned job, has created a big stumbling block and bereaucratic bottleneck in the smooth running of the compemsation process, forcing the patience of the victims to wither away and loose hope and confidence in the whole matter. While some people see this connivance as aiming to divert the Pfizer issue to satisfying personal interests of the said two committee members, through allocating contracts to themselves as well as through gaining maximum allowances in the course of the delays and prolonging the period. The committee members are accused of conniving to smuggle patients believed to be their candidates in the compensation, as well as trying to win contract of building the said Hospital, to themselves alone. The committee memebvers, who were earlier on highly respected and considered as reliable and trustworthy, the later seemed to have been blinded by the huge amount of money in form of billions of Naira in the compensation deal, or else they were being misled and lured by the few Pfizer agents employed by the Pfizer itself and injected in their midst. The respected members might have also forgotten the honour done them by the state Governor, who appointed them in confidence and publicly praised their qualifications and trustworthiness. It is most unfortunate however, the state government, failed to keep track of the activities of the members, since the day they were appointed to the task. The greatest fear now is that at the slow pace and manner the committee members are dragging the matter, if they ever allow the compensation process to clash with the on-coming general elections and politiking, they might jeopardize the whole thing and make the victims to forfeit their due rights of the compensation. It is definate though, that the victims would still resume court case in the case of any such failure, yet the outcome would not augur well for both parties in the Pfizer case. ISA MUHAMMAD INUWA, Correspondent of Radio Deutsche Welle, writes from Kano, Nigeria. He can be reached at – ismi2000ng@yahoo.com or 08035899555.
|