According to CDSCO, it’s impossible for India to fall short of the medical device
Amid all the noise over the government’s interference in stent pricing and its consequences, comes another missive from the Union Health Ministry’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). According to CDSCO, it’s impossible for India to fall short of the medical device.
“There is a lot of buzz in hospitals that apparently there is a shortage of coronary stents after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) slashed the prices. But there is no chance of a shortage (of coronary stents) because over 60 per cent of the stent market is based in India. Maximum number of stents are indigenous,” said Dr S Eswara Reddy, Deputy Drugs Controller (India).
“Drug eluting stents in countries such as Germany are also priced at a maximum of Rs 15,000. Keeping this in mind, there shouldn’t be a shortage of stents with the multinational companies either. The slashing of prices is affecting hospitals, due to which a scenario of shortage is being created,” Dr Reddy said.
According to the Strategic Market Report 2015, the coronary stent market in India was valued at around $450 million in 2012 and it’s grown at a rate of 22 per cent (2005-2012), backed by a surge in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). An increasing penetration of drug eluting stents (DES), which is above 90 per cent, gave the market an added boost.
The report stated that the market will continue to grow at a fast pace due to new and upcoming private hospitals, government initiatives to improve healthcare access, an increasing number of interventional cardiologists, an explosion of healthcare insurance and a growth in usage of high-value bio-absorbable stents.
“The coronary stent market in India is so strong that there is no likelihood of a shortage. The prices have now been fixed at the genuine rate, which everybody should abide by in the best interests of patients,” Dr Reddy said.
The NPPA last week warned hospitals, stent manufacturers and importers of legal action in case they are found spreading “misinformation” about shortage of the medical device in the wake of the price cap.
On the alleged artificial shortage of stents, NPPA said that “the probability of an understanding between companies, the distributors and hospitals under such a situation cannot be ruled out”.
The regulator also warned of legal action in case misinformation in this regard is spread.
“Any hospital having a situation where stocks of any brand have been exhausted and require to be replenished is expected to issue a written demand/communication to the company. Without having done so, talking of shortage on record is misinformation. It needs to be stopped in public interest,” the regulator said.
It further said: “If a stent company finds that any hospital or distributor has refused the supply of stents of certain brands, which it took during the pre-price capping period, such companies are advised to write to the distributor/hospital concerned.”
The NPPA has also said that it will take legal action in case of non-compliance of the orders.
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