ADEH welcomes decision of NPPA to fix ceiling price of coronary stents

Ludhiana, February 14, 2017: The Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH) has welcomed the decision of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to fix the ceiling price of the coronary stents. The NPPA in its order notified on 13th February 2017 has fixed the ceiling price of the bare metal stents at Rs.7260 and of drug eluting stents at Rs.29600. These stents have been sold to the patients at a price of Rs.70000 to Rs.150000 till date.
In a statement released here today Dr G S Grewal – Former President Punjab Medical Council and Dr Arun Mitra – Former Chairman Ethical Committee PMC & National Senior Vice President Indian Doctor for Peace and Development (IDPD) said this will bring big relief to the patients who had to pay such exorbitant charge for stents. It is an irony that a stent which would be sold by the manufacturer at a price of Rs.8000 would reach the end user i.e the patient anywhere Rs.70000 to Rs.150000.
They added, major part of the profit was going to the hospitals. The lust for profit in many cases led to unnecessary putting of stents. This capping of price would also make the hospitals desist from this unethical practice. A delegation of the ADEH had met the chairman of NPPA on 3rd January 2017 and requested him to cap these prices and had also demanded financial and clinical audit of the coronary stenting. The constituents of ADEH along with All India Drug Action Network has worked hard for this. This order the NPPA has referred to the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in which the Hon’ble court had observed that “Profiteering, by itself, is evil. Profiteering in the scarce resources of the community, much needed life-sustaining foodstuffs and life-saving drugs is diabolic. It is a menace which has to be fettered and curbed”. The order has also directed the facilities performing cardiac procedure using coronary stents to mention the cost of the coronary stent along with the brand name and other details on the bill. It has also directed the retailer to display the price list on its premises. It also said that any excess amount charged above the ceiling price will have to be refunded. Dr Mitra and Dr Grewal said that they will now take up the matter of price of the medicine, implants and other consumables with the NPPA.