In a major relief to lakhs of cardiac patients, the government today cut prices of life-saving coronary stents. Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar said, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped ceiling price for Drug Eluting Stents (DES) at 29,600 rupees and for Bare Metal Stents (BMS) at 7,260 rupees. <br/><br/>Briefing media in New Delhi today, Mr Kumar informed that these prices are exclusive of VAT and other local taxes. He said, the average MRP in the market for BMS was 45 thousand rupees and for DES one lakh 21 thousand rupees.<br/><br/>The Minister said, pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of affordable, quality healthcare for all, government has issued the notification last night for fixing the ceiling prices of coronary stents. He said it was a good decision for all cardiac patients in the country. <br/><br/>Mr Kumar informed that the Ministry, after reviewing the recommendation of Ministry of Health, had directed the NPPA to hold multi-stakeholder consultations with industry and industry associations, manufacturers, importers, hospital associations, distributors' associations, doctors and NGOs and other civil society members for fixing the ceiling prices of coronary stents. <br/><br/>Mr Kumar also said in case of serious violations of the ceiling prices, the NPPA is authorised to recover the overcharged amount along with 15 percent interest. For addressing the grievances of the common people, the Minister informed that the Ministry has already started two mobile apps, Pharma Jan Samadhan and Pharma Sahi Daam, on which aggrieved person can register complaints and the Ministry would act swiftly to resolve it. <br/><br/>He said, presently market size of India made stents is roughly 30 percent. The Minister stated that the new ceiling prices will promote Make in India in a big way and seeing the huge number of patients and future requirement, foreign companies will also try to make in India for cutting costs and remain competitive. Cardiovascular Diseases are major cause of death in India.<br/><br/>Various Health groups have welcomed the NPPA notification for capping prices for coronary stents. They said, the order is an important first step in checking the corrupt practices of the unethical triad of industry, doctors and hospitals that has become commonplace across the health sector.

In a major relief to lakhs of cardiac patients, the government today cut prices of life-saving coronary stents. Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar said, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped ceiling price for Drug Eluting Stents (DES) at 29,600 rupees and for Bare Metal Stents (BMS) at 7,260 rupees. <br/><br/>Briefing media in New Delhi today, Mr Kumar informed that these prices are exclusive of VAT and other local taxes. He said, the average MRP in the market for BMS was 45 thousand rupees and for DES one lakh 21 thousand rupees.<br/><br/>The Minister said, pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of affordable, quality healthcare for all, government has issued the notification last night for fixing the ceiling prices of coronary stents. He said it was a good decision for all cardiac patients in the country. <br/><br/>Mr Kumar informed that the Ministry, after reviewing the recommendation of Ministry of Health, had directed the NPPA to hold multi-stakeholder consultations with industry and industry associations, manufacturers, importers, hospital associations, distributors' associations, doctors and NGOs and other civil society members for fixing the ceiling prices of coronary stents. <br/><br/>Mr Kumar also said in case of serious violations of the ceiling prices, the NPPA is authorised to recover the overcharged amount along with 15 percent interest. For addressing the grievances of the common people, the Minister informed that the Ministry has already started two mobile apps, Pharma Jan Samadhan and Pharma Sahi Daam, on which aggrieved person can register complaints and the Ministry would act swiftly to resolve it. <br/><br/>He said, presently market size of India made stents is roughly 30 percent. The Minister stated that the new ceiling prices will promote Make in India in a big way and seeing the huge number of patients and future requirement, foreign companies will also try to make in India for cutting costs and remain competitive. Cardiovascular Diseases are major cause of death in India.