The Ministers of Health and Research took legal action on Monday, September 5 in view of a new report on the Marseille IHU, which confirms “ serious malfunctions when this scientific institute was under the direction of Professor Didier Raoult.
A final administrative report, published Monday, September 5, “ highlights serious malfunctions of the IHU “, and ” several elements” are” likely to constitute offenses or serious breaches of health or research regulations “, declare the ministers François Braun and Sylvie Retailleau in a joint press release. They specify that they have seized the public prosecutor of Marseille.
In the light of this document, the ministers denounce ” some widespread inappropriate medical and scientific practices » within the Mediterranean Infection University Hospital Institute (IHU-MI), created in 2011 and directed by Professor Didier Raoult until the end of August.
Practices are pointed out not complying with the regulations and which may generate a health risk for patients, in particular during research protocols “, of the ” deviations in management practices, which can generate harassment and ill-being at work “, of the ” excesses in governance, which does not strictly respect the rules governing the foundations of scientific cooperation “, specifies the press release.
A gradual deterioration in the institution’s financial situation is also mentioned.
The final report of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas) and its counterpart for higher education and research (IGESR) covers a wider field than a previous report, already scathing, published a few months ago by the National Medicines Agency (ANSM).
Excerpts from its preliminary version had been disclosed in early July by Provence and Mediapart. Among other practices of such a nature as to fall under a criminal qualification “, the Igas-IGESR inspectors note that patients treated at the IHU for Covid-19 or tuberculosis were administered “ molecules outside their marketing authorization “.
The Ministers of Health and Research will soon convene the leaders of the founding establishments and the director of the IHU-MI “so that they implement” as soon as possible a proactive action plan taking into account all the recommendations made by the two inspections “, According to the press release.
” Full compliance with the action plan and the regulations in force will be subject to regular checks by the two ministries, and will condition the continuation of the activity of the IHU-MI and its funding by the State. “, they warn.
Since September 1, the IHU has been led by a new director: Pierre-Edouard Fournier, an infectious disease specialist from the institution, who defended his thesis under the supervision of Professor Raoult.
(With AFP)