Billionaire Bill Gates recently sparked massive outrage and controversy during a podcast with Reid Hoffman by referring to India as “a kind of laboratory to try things.”
This comment came as part of a discussion highlighting India’s role in global development initiatives.
During the conversation, Gates said, “India is an example of a country where there’s plenty of things that are difficult there – the health, nutrition, education is improving and they are stable enough and generating their own government revenue enough that it’s very likely that 20 years from now people will be dramatically better off and it’s kind of a laboratory to try things that then when you prove them out in India, you can take to other places.”He went on to add that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s largest non-US office is based in India, and that the country plays a key role in piloting many of the Foundation’s initiatives: “Our biggest non-US office for the Foundation is in India and the most number of pilot roll-out things we’re doing anywhere in the world are with partners in India.”Gates’ choice of words, referring to India as a “laboratory,” immediately sparked outrage. Many took offense to what they perceived as a disrespectful comparison, with some accusing him of treating India as a testing ground for global initiatives.
This statement has reignited controversy surrounding a 2009 clinical trial by PATH (Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health), an NGO funded by the Gates Foundation.
In 2009, PATH collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct clinical trials of a cervical cancer vaccine on 14,000 tribal schoolgirls in Khammam district, Telangana, and Vadodara, Gujarat. Months after the trials began, several participants reported severe side effects and seven deaths were recorded, although the deaths were later attributed to unrelated causes.An investigation into the trials uncovered serious ethical lapses, revealed the skin doctor. The trials were presented as a public health initiative, concealing their experimental nature. Consent forms were allegedly signed by hostel wardens instead of the girls’ parents, leaving families unaware of potential risks.The trials specifically targeted tribal communities with limited healthcare access and awareness. Severe side effects were reported, fuelling allegations that the trials exploited vulnerable populations under the guise of aid.PATH denied any wrongdoing, attributing the deaths to infections and suicides.
Shockingly, the people of India do not like being made to feel as if they are guinea pigs for NGOs.
Gates expressed admiration for India’s progress and innovation during the same podcast.
“Our biggest non-US office for the Foundation is in India, and the most number of pilot rollout projects we’re doing anywhere in the world are with partners in India,” he noted.He further added, “If you go there and you’ve never been, you might think, whoa, this is a chaotic place, and you’re not used to so many levels of income all being on the street at the same time. But you will get a sense of vibrancy.”
Perhaps if Gates were less isolated with his billions and interacted with more normal people, he would have had the wisdom and humility to frame this discussion better.
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