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Experts panel to monitor life-saving implants' prices

On Tuesday, FDA authorities had written a letter to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), asking it to regulate the high prices of cardiac stents.

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After the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) discovered the massive overpricing of stents used for angioplasty, FDA minister Girish Bapat has decided to appoint an expert committee to monitor other life-saving implants such as bone implants and lens for the same malpractice. Once this panel starts functioning and gives its report, the minister will take up the issue with the Centre so that poor and needy patients don’t suffer.

On Tuesday, FDA authorities had written a letter to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), asking it to regulate the high prices of cardiac stents. According to FDA, it had been flooded with complaints from the public as well as NGOs regarding the overpricing. Based on the complaints, its vigilance branch had conducted a detailed inquiry and found that the MRP of the stents was between 300% and 700% higher than their actual costs. The probe, which was headed by FDA joint commissioner (vigilance) MM Pawar, had also found that the profit margin of the importing company with respect to its distributors was about 120%.

In 2011, FDA had written to the Drug Controller of India that life-saving medical devices like stents, pacemakers and orthopaedic implants should be included in the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). In 2014, 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 government really looks into pricing of plants, its will definitely help patients,” said Dr Jayesh Lele, president-elect, Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra.

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