Stent's inclusion in essential list leaves industry divided

The government's decision to include stents in the national list of essential medicines has elicited contradictory views with apex healthcare body NATHEALTH raising concerns about it, while the Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMed) supported the move.
Bringing stents under the ambit of a pharmaceutical style pricing control regime will restrict their inflow and usage into India, and thus, negatively impact patient choice and outcomes, NATHEALTH said.
It also contradicts government's intent to separate medical devices from drugs, it added.
"The government's move to include stents in the NLEM is not consistent with the stated direction of separating medical devices from drugs and will limit choice for patients in selecting the most appropriate option in complicated cardiac procedures," NATHEALTH President Rahul Khosla said.

The Government earlier this week had added coronary stents to the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 (NLEM 2015).
Expressing concern, NATHEALTH Secretary General Anjan Bose said: "We have been constantly engaging with several government agencies to explain that due to their uniqueness, medical devices cannot be treated through policies and frameworks made for pharmaceutical products."
On the other hand, AiMeD -- which represents domestic medical devices manufacturers -- supported the government's move saying it was a long awaited move that will bring relief for many poor patients for whom the cost of affording a drug eluting stent had become prohibitive.

"A correction and price regulation in this market was long overdue and AiMeD supports government's move to finally put a cap on the MRP's which shall ensure fair practices in this important sector which was plagued with exorbitant prices charged from ignorant helpless patients," AiMeD Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath said.