NPPA warns pharmaceutical companies for ceiling prices of coronary stents

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Monday warned the companies manufacturing and marketing coronary stents and hospitals to comply with the notified ceiling price of stents and to adhere the pricing norms, said Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

A coronary stent is a tube-shaped device placed in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, to keep the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart disease.

As per the Ministry, NPPA issue came in after few companies dealing with coronary stents rolled out freebies by announcing schemes like "buy 10 and get three free." 

Also, according to the Ministry, NPPA  noticed that some companies sell the ower priced stent at higher prices thereby giving more than 8% trade margins.

"All manufactures/importers/marketers of coronary stents and all hospitals/nursing homes/institutions are once again directed to follow all instructions of NPPA which have been issued so far, with regard to the price fixation of coronary stents. Non-compliance of these instructions shall be taken up for prosecution under relevant provisions of Essential Commodities Act," Ministry warned.