National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has warned hospitals, stent manufacturers and importers of legal action in case they are found spreading misinformation about shortage of the coronary stent in the wake of its price cap.<br/><br/>The move came after it was brought to its notice that certain hospitals are refusing to use certain categories stents. It said, any hospital having a situation where stocks of any brand have been exhausted and require to be replenished is expected to have issued a written demand to the company.<br/><br/>The regulator said, without having done so, talking of shortage of stents on record is misinformation, which needs to be stopped in public interest. It also said, if a stent company finds that any hospital or distributor has refused to take supply of stents of certain brands which it used to take during the pre-price capping period, such companies are advised to write to the concerned distributor and hospital. It said, such hospitals will face inspection of its records by NPPA and state drug controllers.<br/><br/>The 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.