Cardiac stents likely to be made more affordable

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration's inquiry into complaints of exorbitant costs of cardiac stents may ultimately benefit thousands of heart patients. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is expected to regulate prices of these life-saving tubes in four months.

Last month, FDA authorities had written to NPPA stressing the need for regulating the prices of cardiac stents. FDA said it had received several complaints from the public and non-profit organisations with regard to overpricing of stents.

Acting on these complaints, a team led by FDA joint commissioner (vigilance) MM Pawar had conducted a detailed probe into the pricing mechanism of three major firms that deal in cardiac stents, in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.

FDA officials found that the maximum retail prices of the stents were highly exaggerated by jacking up the actual cost between 300% and 700%. The team also found that the importing companies, distributors and hospitals each made a profit of about 125% at the expense of hapless patients.

"We informed NPPA about our findings. They have taken a serious note of the issue and are likely to include stents in drugs list. They will standardise the prices of stents across the country within four months. Once the product comes under NPPA, it will become affordable for the poor and needy patients," said FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble.

The top official said since angioplasty, which is an interventional heart procedure, is a life-saving surgery, FDA has urged the NPAA to take the required steps to regulate prices of cardiac stents.

"The cost of the stents need to be regulated under the Essential Commodities Act. We have requested NPPA to include cardiac stents under the national list of essential medicines as it is a life-saving item. We have also urged NPPA to fix the profit margin for importing companies, distributors and hospitals," said Kamble.

Dr Ajay Chourasiya, head of cardiology department at BYL Nair Hospital said, "If it happens, it will be of great help to patients."