Govt to control prices of stents, pacemakers, orthopedic implants

Kochi : Life saving medical devices like stents, pacemakers and orthopedic implants would be included in the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), the Centre has announced. The DPCO is an order issued by the Government of India to control and regulate the price of essential and life-saving drugs.          The central government is committed to end the “drug mafia” which is responsible for unaffordable prices of medical devices like stents, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said.  “…cardiac stents, stents for the heart, orthopedic implants…if the rate is Rs 15,000, they are selling it in Rs 60,000 …Rs 1 lakh. It is drug mafia. Modi government wants to end this mafia,” he said.