Panel to ensure aid for victims of faulty J&J hip implants

BENGALURU: An expert committee has been formed in Karnataka to examine cases of faulty articular surface replacement (ASR) hip implants manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the wake of the product drawing flak from across the globe.

The committee will help the affected claim compensation. The Centre had recently asked the states to ensure compensation to all victims.

Claims for compensation from patients, who underwent hip replacement surgery using ASR hip implants of DePuy International Limited (now J&J) before August 2010 will be taken up by the committee. The earlier compensation programme of J&J allowed reimbursement for eligible revision procedures up to 10 years from the date of primary surgery.

The five-member committee comprises Dr VJ Purushotham and Dr Ramesh Krishna, orthopaedic surgeons from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute; Dr Ravi N, head of the department of radio diagnosis, Victoria Hospital; Dr B Kumar, deputy drugs controller (India), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, subzone-Bengaluru; and Amaresh Tumbagi, drugs controller, Karnataka. The members will soon meet to decide on ways to identify patients in Karnataka. “Patients have to come forward. Orthopaedic surgeons can also reach out to us if their patients faced trouble or required a second implant,” said a member.

Amaresh Tumbagi said patients can file applications with details of the surgery and related issues. “When it comes to compensation, jurisdiction does not matter. Even if the patient had undergone transplant in any other state and is currently living in Karnataka, s/he is eligible to apply,” said Tumbagi.