Stents exorbitant prices due to doctor-industry nexus: Allegations pile up

"The pricing data which was submitted by the industry to the NPPA has made it clear beyond doubt," said Mira Shiva of the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN).

The health groups included AIDAN, Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare, Third World Network, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and the National Working Group on Patent Laws.

The groups said that price fixation of coronary stents should be limited to two categories ? Bare Metal Stents and Drug Eluting Stents ? as instructed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in its notification on December 21 last year.

"The ceiling prices fixed by the NPPA must meet the objective of ensuring true affordability and should be fixed on the basis of the CGHS reimbursement rates.

"The government should develop standard treatment guidelines for cardiovascular interventions with the help of expert doctors free from conflict of interest and implement medical audits of procedures," they demanded.

"The MCI should investigate the professional misconduct of doctors, particularly office bearers of the Cardiological Society of India that have indulged in unethical lobbying. Government must immediately implement a legally binding code for marketing of health products including devices," they said.