Government today said that the rate of coronary stent announced recently includes 8 per cent trade margin. It has also said, no additional charge except local sales taxes and VAT can be demanded from the patients. <br/><br/>Providing relief to cardiac patients, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has cut prices of life-saving coronary stents by up to 85 per cent by capping them at 7,260 rupees for bare metal and 29,600 rupees for drug eluting variety. <br/><br/>The NPPA in its memorandum has said that 8 per cent maximum margin has been built into the calculation of the ceiling price of the coronary stents. <br/><br/>A coronary stent is a tube-shaped device placed in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It keeps the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart diseases.