Health minister K K Shailaja warns hospitals against hiking stent prices

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K.K. Shailaja has warned of stringent action against  hospitals  charging exorbitant rates  for the use of coronary stents.  The government would consider supplying stents through community pharmacies, she told the Assembly. "Many hospitals were learnt to be collecting exorbitant charges for surgical procedures  to compensate  the loss suffered due to the regulation of stent price. The government would even consider invoking the provisions of the essential commodities Act to deal with such hospitals," she said.

Ms Shailaja was replying to a submission by Mr  P.T. A. Rahim alleging that despite the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) slashing the price of stents,  many hospital were  charging high  rates for procedures like angioplasties. The minister said that the Drugs Control Authority would be directed to inspect  the hospitals to ascertain the facts.   All surgical procedures carried out after the price regulation would be verified and in case any hospitals were found to be charging higher price,  it would be reported to the NPPA.   The hospitals would also be directed to record the brand name of the stents used, which is mandatory as per NPPA.