Major relief to patients: Cardiac stents to cost 75% less now
Advertisement
Advertisement
Major life-saving devices cannot be used to earn profit. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority on February 14 slashed stent prices by over 75%. Including VAT, drug eluting stents (DES) and bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) will now only cost heart patients Rs 31,080, while bare metal stents (BMS) would cost Rs 7,623.Earlier private hospitals were earning major profits from these stents. The decision is expected to break the nexus between manufacturers, doctors and hospitals that have led to "unethical" markups in the prices of these stents, according to The Economic Times.
"In short, the Authority noted that there is no value addition or financial stakes in trade at the level of hospitals and that maximum price distortion and hike takes place at that level," NPPA chairman Bhupendra Singh told ET. "Legally as well as ethically, hospitals cannot and should not charge margins," he added.
According to data from the drug pricing regulator, hospitals were found earning exorbitant margins on stents-over 650% in some cases.
Advertisement
Advertisement
- Welcome to the white-collar recession
- Singapore Airlines was ordered to pay a couple compensation for 'mental agony' after they complained their business-class seats didn't automatically recline
- A 101-year-old woman keeps getting mistaken for a baby on flights and says it's because American Airlines' booking system can't handle her age
- “Wish to follow in the footsteps of PM Modi!” ‘Anupamaa’ star Rupali Ganguly joins BJP
- “Wish to follow in the footsteps of PM Modi!” ‘Anupamaa’ star Rupali Ganguly joins BJP
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage on iPhone 15: Killer game to debut on Pro and iPad on June 6
- 5 worst cooking oils for your health
- From fiber to protein: 10 health benefits of including lentils in your diet