Modi Backs Stent Price Controls; More Drugs To Join List
The Prime Minister said he has discussed the issue with stent manufacturers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he supports price control for stent products, weighing in on the debate ahead of the last phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Stents for coronary diseases will be available at Rs 8,000, a third of its actual price, after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) imposed price control on February 28. Imported products will be available for Rs 27,000, a sixth of their real price. The price caps will benefit the middle class, Modi said at a campaign rally in Varanasi, on Saturday.
"I called the manufacturers of stents and discussed this issue,’’ Modi said.
The price control had stoked fears of unavailability of coronary stents in the country.
The government agency will hold second round of meeting with manufacturers and importers to review stock positions and plans for next six months on Tuesday, NPPA tweeted.
NPPA has begun posting on its websites the names of the hospitals who have been over-charging. The authority is also released a list of 24 hospitals for overcharging and non-disclosure of information to the patients. These hospitals did not disclose the name of the manufacturer, the brand and its specifications to the patients during billing.
The drug price regulator also notified through a gazette that non-compliance of pricing details would lead to prosecution under the Essential Commodities Act.
Modi said the government has reduced prices of 800 drugs, including those used for the treatment of Diabetes. “We have forced drug companies to sell drugs that cost Rs 30,000 per tablet at one point to sell them at Rs 3,000,” Modi added.
The NPPA also tweeted that it will meet on March 9 to consider price control on few more drugs.