USTR asks India to reconsider price cap on medical devices

The government move to cap device prices is getting political attention too

As the Department of Pharmaceuticals plans to bring more medical devices under price cap, the pressure is mounting on the government to prevent it from taking such a step. In the latest move, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has written to Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu raising concerns over the capping of prices of coronary stents and orthopaedic implants. The USTR has also reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The letter from USTR Ambassador Robert E Lighthizer states, “The pricing policy has created serious problems for the US companies that sell these products in Indian market. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing