Fix price of stents by March 1, Delhi High Court tells Centre
Advertisement
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the central government to fix the maximum retail price (MRP) and a ceiling price by March 1, 2017, for coronary stents, used to treat narrowed or weakened arteries in patients.
The order, passed by a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, came a day after coronary stent was notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) as a Schedule-I drug under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, making it eligible for price control.
This means that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) can now start the process of fixing ceiling prices for a variety of stents.
On July 19 this year, the Health Ministry included stents in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) after the court demanded action on a public interest petition filed by advocate Birender Sangwan who sought price control on stents.
The petitioner alleged that the government and the NPPA are being "insensitive and irresponsible" towards the people by not taking any steps to fix the price of the medical device which is allegedly being sold at high price in the country.
It had also claimed that people in all age groups in the country suffer from heart ailments, requiring use of stents and not all of them can afford this treatment.
The order, passed by a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, came a day after coronary stent was notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) as a Schedule-I drug under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, making it eligible for price control.
This means that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) can now start the process of fixing ceiling prices for a variety of stents.
On July 19 this year, the Health Ministry included stents in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) after the court demanded action on a public interest petition filed by advocate Birender Sangwan who sought price control on stents.
The petitioner alleged that the government and the NPPA are being "insensitive and irresponsible" towards the people by not taking any steps to fix the price of the medical device which is allegedly being sold at high price in the country.
It had also claimed that people in all age groups in the country suffer from heart ailments, requiring use of stents and not all of them can afford this treatment.
Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.