Drug pricing regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued directive to all stent manufacturers and importers to issue revised price lists under Para 24(1) and (2) for implementation of coronary stents ceiling prices fixed and notified under the provisions of DPCO, 2013.

Copies of the same have been sent to sent to all distributors and hospitals, with copies to State Drug Controllers.

NPPA has been closely monitoring the implementation of price capping of coronary stents while ensuring availability of all the stents in the market of all 'brands' and all 'generations'.

Letters have been issued to all chief secretaries of the states and to all state drug controllers (SDCs) for ensuring smooth compliance. In order to ensure and prove price compliance, all the manufacturers and importers are supposed to issued revised price lists under Para 24(1) and (2) of DPCO 2013.

Meanwhile, a report was received from a hospital in Delhi where the cardiac care had put up a notice that the revised price list was not received from company and hence not displayed. The matter is being investigated and suitable action will be taken against the company/cardiac care centre. All hospitals which are billing to the patients must display the revised price list of the cardiac stents on a conspicuous part of the premises of Hospitals in such a manner so as to be easily accessible to public as mandated under Para 24(4) of DPCO, 2013.

State Drug Controllers (SDCs) have been sensitized on this issue. SDCs will be inspecting more hospitals in the coming days to check whether NPPA notifications are complied with.

NPPA has stated all manufacturers have to maintain smooth production and supply of coronary stents of all brands which were available in the country before price cap. If any specific complaint is received, along with proof of withdrawal, action shall be taken under Para 21 along with prosecution.

Companies have already informed the government that they are continuing with the same level of supplies. If there is any non-availability or withdrawal of stents, it should inform NPPA immediately.

However, complaints have been received that few hospitals when demanded to use the so called best stents, refused to make it available on the grounds that companies have told them to hold these stents. This is a clear violation of Para 28(a) and (b) of DPCO, 2013 which states that no manufacturer or distributor shall withhold from sale or refuse to sell to a dealer any stents without good and sufficient reasons. No dealer shall withhold from sale or refuse to sell any drug available with him to a customer intending to purchase such drug.

NPPA has also clarified that for the implementation of a price cap, the effective date is to the date of billing and not the date of angioplasty. Accordingly, if a patient has angioplasty done before 14 February, 2017 and billed on 14 February, 2017 or after, the patient will mandatorily get the benefit of the revised prices.

The hospitals are under obligation to refund extra charged money to the patients immediately to avoid action by the State Drug Controllers and NPPA. Patients are informed to send such complaints to NPPA along with copy of bill, name of hospital/centre, district and State along with their name and mobile number. Complaints and verifiable information can also be sent to NPPA on 1800111255 Helpline, Pharma Jan Samadhan, at Whatsapp number - 9695736333 (or at www.nppaindia.nic.in).