Not Just Knee Implants, bring down total procedure cost by hospitals too, demands AiMeD

New Delhi: Domestic medical devices makers body AiMeD welcomed the governments move to cap knee implant prices but said without a reduction in total procedure cost by hospitals the move may not yield the desired results.

However, the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD) questioned the governments "piecemeal approach" to fix prices of medical devices instead of a holistic systemic change. "Prices are reasonable and we are with the government, we believe that this price cap will help every person in the country who needs implants," AiMeD Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath said in a statement.

At the same time, the manufacturers are worried about the implementation of relabelling of stocks already in the market, he added. Nath, further said if the hospitals/government don't reduce their total procedure cost then this move will not give the required result to the needy citizen. After cardiac stents, the government today fixed a price range for knee implants from Rs 54,000 to Rs 1.14 lakh, nearly 70 per cent lower than most surgeries currently cost.

With private hospitals reportedly charging exorbitant rates, the government capped the maximum retail price of the knee implants, a move that will save patients an estimated Rs 1,500 crore annually. Questioning "piecemeal approach" to fixing prices item by item, Nath said why can't the government consider a holistic systemic change. "What about other implants and other devices, including consumables and disposables?" he asked.