Hyderabad: Despite a 30-50 per cent reduction in the price of stents in the last four years, patients have not benefitted as the cost of the procedure has increased by two to seven per cent, officers in private hospitals said.
According to IMS Health, which conducted a study, stent prices contribute only 20 to 25 per cent of the overall angioplasty costs. The study comes at a time when the Union health ministry is considering the proposal of including stents in the essential prices list.
“The study clearly shows that the benefit of reduction in stent prices has not been passed on to patients. The price cuts have benefited the hospital industry, which is claiming that its overhead costs have increased,” said Dr A. Ratnam, who is involved in hospital management.
“This is partially true. All companies have not reduced their prices; only a few Indian manufacturers have. But the overhead costs of hospitals continue to remain the same,” said cardiologist Dr Sashi Kant, a member of Cardiology Society of India.
Don’t patients have the right to know what is the actual cost of the stent? “Each patient is given the price of the stent — premium, middle and moderate package. The patient can opt for it and accordingly stents are used,” said cardiologist Dr R. Shanker Kumar.
Lack of transferring benefits is one of the prime concerns of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, which is under pressure as the government wants to get the popular device under the EPL.
“The high cost of the procedure is blamed on the stent and not on the overheads cost. This is proving to be a major deterrent to the industry, which is working hard to provide good medical devices. Large volumes have allowed for a reduction in prices but hospitals must also work towards passing it on to the patients. Till this is done, it will not be of any use,” said a senior member of the association.
