Hyderabad: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing authority on Monday revised the price of drug-eluting stents to Rs 27,890 and that of bare-metal stents to Rs 7,660. With drug-eluting stents being used in 95 per cent cases most of these category stents are cheap for patients. Dr K.K. Aggarwal Senior cardiologist explained, “Prices of accessories like catherers, ballons and others will have to be displayed separately in the bill along with brand names. Patients also have an option to get a stent and accessories from outside the establishments.” A trade margin of 8 per cent is allowed. The government has also invited comments to check the cost of guide wire, balloon catheters and guiding catheters which are presently being sold at 15 to 400 per cent margins.
The decision to cap stent prices has not gone well with the Medical Technology Association of India whhch finds that the government is limiting the patient’s choice. Mr Pavan Choudary, driector general of MTal explained, “The government is limiting the choice and availability of innovative technologies in the market. We are going to talk to them and explain them our point of view.”
But doctors state that the decision is good for patients who have a wider choice and can opt for what they like.
