Govt plans medical devices price control

Concerned over the exploitative prices of medical devices, the Centre is planning to control the exorbitant prices of such life saving cardiac gadgets, including stents. The Ministry of Chemical and Chemicals & Fertilizers has sought ‘price to retailer’ and ‘maximum retail price’ from manufacturers of stents as well as implants. The government is also considering issuing a letter to the industry associations to consider voluntary disclosure and self-regulation of marketing expenses, which will help in fixing the prices of stents and others implants. The ministry had directed all the medical device manufacturers to submit the details by November 30.