Bill Gates Faces Criticism for Calling India a 'Laboratory to Try Things'

The remarks, made during a podcast, reignited scrutiny of a 2009 vaccine trial in India funded by the Gates Foundation.

Bill Gates described India as 'a kind of laboratory to try things' during a podcast with Reid Hoffman, emphasizing India's progress in health, nutrition, and education.
The comments have drawn backlash on social media, with critics accusing Gates of a 'colonial hangover' and treating India as a testing ground for experiments.
The controversy has revived discussion of a 2009 cervical cancer vaccine trial in India, funded by the Gates Foundation, which faced allegations of ethical violations and exploitation of vulnerable communities.
The 2009 trial, conducted on 14,000 tribal schoolgirls, resulted in severe side effects and seven deaths, though investigations attributed the deaths to unrelated causes.
Supporters argue Gates' remarks were intended to highlight India's role in piloting development programs, while critics demand greater accountability from foreign-funded initiatives.