Follow notification on capping prices of stents: Health ministry to hospitals

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health has directed all hospitals including privates ones to follow its February notification on capping the prices of stents.

On February 13, the government capped the prices of life saving coronary stents a tiny metal tube inserted into the narrowed coronary arteries by up to 85 per cent, providing major relief to cardiac patients.

In a circular addressed to the principal/health secretaries of all the states, the government directed them to "abide by the notification dated February 13 relating to capping of the prices of stents issued by the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers".

The move comes after the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir vide order dated May 8 directed the Ministry of Health to issue a circular clearly indicating that all hospitals should abide by the February 13 notification.

According to the notification, the ceiling price of bare metal stents has been fixed at Rs 7,260 per unit and that of drug eluting stents and drug eluting variety has been fixed at Rs 29,600 per unit.

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.

The move of the government is aimed at stopping the menace of over-pricing of coronary stents in various hospitals.