The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has slashed the prices of the life-saving devices to as much as 75%. Now, the bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS), drug eluting stents (DES) will cost the heart patients only Rs 31,080 and bare metal stents (BMS) would cost Rs 7,623. The price also includes the VAT.
The authority also noted that hospitals have to provide a breakup in the bill and must include the cost of the device. This decision gives a major relief to many heart patients as the hospitals looted money from the patients unmasking the actual price od the stunt.
According to the drug pricing regulator, hospitals earned as much as 650% in some cases as margins. The authority mandated that the hospitals legally or ethically should not charge margins.
The authority directed the State drug controller to monitor and act upon any hikes in doctors' fees and other operation costs.
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