Dr Dilip Nadkarni, orthopaedic surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, called this as a good move by NPPA. "It will not only bring uniformity but make the process very transparent and standarised," said Dr Nadkarni.
In order to check over pricing of cardiac stents, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has written to all manufacturers of orthopaedic implants asking them for product details and prices. The development comes within a week of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) writing a letter to the authority on over pricing issues.
In its letter, the NPPA has reminded the companies that since medical devices like orthopaedic implants fall under non-scheduled drug category, their prices can be increased only up to 10% of MRP annually. The letter added that in addition to the penalty, manufacturers/importers/distributors shall be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with interest thereon from the date of increase in price.
Dr Dilip Nadkarni, orthopaedic surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, called this as a good move by NPPA. "It will not only bring uniformity but make the process very transparent and standarised," said Dr Nadkarni.
Apart from NPPA, the state government is also closely following the over pricing issue in cardiac stents and orthopaedic implants. Doctors say that like in cardiac stents, where there is a huge disparity in manufacturing and selling prices, orthopaedic implants are also priced exorbitantly. Dr Shubhranshu Mohanty, orthopaedic surgeon attached to KEM Hospital and a member of Indian Orthopaedic Association, said, "In private hospitals, they charge their profit margin too which is from 10-20%. The pricing of the implants in different hospitals differs too. In public hospitals, where the demand is huge, the manufacturers give heavy discount."
Surprisingly, this isn't the first move by the NPPA to regulate the prices of stents and implants. In 2011, the state's FDA had written to the Drug Controller of India that
life-saving medical devices like stents, pacemakers, orthopedic implants among other things should be included in the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). In 2014, the NPPA had sought pricing data from the manufacturers, importers and distributors of cardiac stents, drug-eluting stents and orthopaedic implants.
"This is a good move. If the state government really looks into the pricing of plant, then it will definitely help patients," said Dr Jayesh Lele, president-elect of Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}