GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi has capped the price of cardiac stents at Rs 22,500, against the previous price of Rs 23,625, including taxes giving a major relief to heart patients undergoing surgeries. The prices will, however, continue to start at Rs 9,000.

Dr RK Kalra, medical superintendent of GB Pant hospital said that cost reduction of a device, always benefited people, especially in a government facility like GB Pant hospital where most people came from weaker sections.

A senior doctor from the hospital’s cardiology department said that this was done to help patients across India. Currently, other government hospitals were charging up to Rs 30,000 for stents but were likely to follow the new price fixed at GB Pant. He further said that throughout the country, wherever these stents were being used, would be of good quality, approved by the Drugs Controller General of India and priced at Rs 22,500. The tender for these stents was an open tender, hence the pricing will be implemented at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital while Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital would follow the suit. He further added that such tenders should be issued regularly in government hospitals so that patients benefit. Also, they were looking for more options and better-quality stents at a lower price.

In February 2017, the Centre had reduced the prices of stents by up to 85%. However, in March 2020, under an amendment made by the National Drug Pricing Authority, the maximum fee for non-drug bare-metal stents was revised to Rs 8,261 while the maximum fee for pharmaceutical and biodegradable stents, including metallic drug-eluting and bioresorbable stents was fixed at Rs 30,811.

Last year, a government order stated that retailers and dealers should display the price list as furnished by the manufacturer/importers on a “conspicuous” part of the premises so that it is easily accessible to people.

Source: ET Healthworld