Karnataka's government and private hospitals view the reduction in stent cost by 85 per cent as a move to save more number of lives across poor and middle income patients. On similar lines, the hospitals in the state also expect prices of other medical devices to fall enabling reduction in patient expenses.
Terming the slash in coronary stent costs as a historic initiative, Dr Shashidhar Buggi, Director, SDS TRC & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases said that there is a need for such regulatory measures for other consumables, procedures and ICU charges to provide affordable and quality healthcare.
Dr B G Tilak plastic surgeon, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Orthopaedics & Trauma, said reducing the prices of stents will also control corruption in the medical industry. He hoped similar steps would be taken in the case of ortho implants & other medical devices.
Cardiovascular diseases account for India’s 25 per cent of total fatalities. Dubbing it as a bold political, social, financial and moral decision, Dr. GB Sattur, cardiologist from Hubballi also pointed out that coronary stent deployment had become huge racket.
Dr. Vijayalakahmi Balekundri, former professor, paediatric cardiology, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru, stated that heart attack is no more a rich man’s disease. Due to smoking and stress people of all sections of society are succumbing to heart attack. Stenting of coronaries especially with drug eluting stent has bailed out many lives.
“Exorbitant cost of the stent was eluding the best treatment for many suffering in India. The central government has done a great service by cutting the coronary stents cost by a whopping 85 per cent to ensure that the have-nots can access it and we professionals laud this extraordinary step to save the precious lives,” she added.
Dr. BN Gangadhar, Director, NIMHANS too appreciated that making stents cheaper was an achievement. On a similar note was Dr. Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Health City who applauded the government’s efforts.
Representing the ophthalmic care sector was Dr Sri Ganesh, managing director, Netradhama Hospital who said that while cost reduction will make medical treatment more affordable for the masses, strict quality control of stents will ensure benefits for patients and also satisfy the medical fraternity. Therefore, ‘Make in India’ with excellence should be the motto.
Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, vice chairman and managing director, Narayana Hrudayalaya said, "Reasonable price for stents is welcome. However, we believe that the mechanism which is used for pricing may lead to the Indian market missing out on some of the newer multinational products. As a result, it may limit the choice of stents for both patients as well as physicians.