City doctors welcome union government’s move slashing stent prices by 85 per cent

The drug eluting stent, that earlier cost one lakh or more, is now available at just Rs 29,600 - a slash of about 85 per cent overall. Welcoming the move, city based cardiologists say it is a huge step towards making healthcare affordable.

Talking to DTNext, Dr M Somasundaram, a city based cardiologist, said, “Now, the patients will be aware of the costs even before the implant and it is transparent. The reduced costs will definitely benefit patients who otherwise had to cough up a lakh or more.”

Stents are devices that are implanted to open blocked arteries. There are different kinds of stents and they can broadly be categorised as bare metal, drug eluting and bio-reabsorable. The latest directive fixed Rs 7,260 as the price for bare metal stents. 

Given the incidence of coronary artery diseases, an earlier study revealed that the number of stent procedures have been steadily rising. However, doctors also point out that there are no guidelines for stent implants in India. “The stent implants have come down drastically in developed countries like the US. They have moved onto managing it surgically or medically.” 

Dr K Kannan, a senior cardiologist, said that government’s initiative to reduce the prices has come with some effective steps. “At no point, there is any room for the patients to be taken for a ride. They have to put up the prices at catheterization laboratories (cath labs) and in bills, ensuring everyone follows the directive,” he said. 

S Abdul Khader, Drugs Controller, Tamil Nadu, said that they intend to track distributor’s sales to hospitals. “We will keep a tab on the wholesale prices at which the hospitals procure stents, for effective implementation,” he said.

However, pointing to the flip side of the price cap, Dr Madan Mohan, Senior Consultant  - Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Malar Hospital, says though it will bring down procedural costs, a steep cut may to be in favour of research and development in stents. 

“Though it may benefit patients and society, one may be forced to opt against stents that are priced higher and are of better quality and compromise on the ones that fit in the category of price cap. A 50 per cent reduction may be more viable,” he says.