|
NATHEALTH expresses concern over inclusion of coronary stents in NLEM
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
July 27 , 2016
|
|
|
NATHEALTH, a forum comprising of both healthcare providers and medical
technology companies, have taken strong exception to the inclusion of
coronary stents in the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 (NLEM
2015) by the Union health ministry recently.
A coronary stent is
an essential device for ensuring optimal outcomes for coronary/cardiac
procedures. Selecting the appropriate stent for each procedure should be
the choice of patients and medical practitioners in order to ensure
such optimal outcomes. 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.
“Medical procedures in India are among
the most affordable in the world, which is a combination of cost of
devices and services. Any notification should be considered only if it
can bring down the overall cost of treatment for the patient without
denying them the options to avail the treatment of their choice.
Additionally, such notifications significantly impact the ‘Make in
India’ attractiveness of the country,” said Milan Rao, chairman, Medical
Technology Forum – NATHEALTH”.
The inclusion of coronary stents
in the NLEM is contradictory to the government’s recently expressed
desire to separate medical devices from drugs by proposing a new Act
which is proposed to be tabled in the upcoming Winter Session. The
government recently added coronary stents to the NLEM 2015. This will
effectively bring the product under price control, NATHEALTH said.
Additionally,
the committee of experts constituted by the health ministry, in its
report of ministry of health, has indicated its desire to bring other
cardiology products under NLEM as well. The reason cited for this action
is the government’s desire to improve the number of percutaneous
cardiac interventions (angioplasty).
Additionally, NATHEALTH also
feels this will impact India’s industry-friendly image globally and
adversely impact the ‘Make in India’ efforts in the medical technology
domain.
“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,” said NATHEALTH’s
president Rahul Khosla.
“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. However the notification on July 19th shows
that we still have some work to do,” said Anjan Bose, secretary general
– NATHEALTH.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS
|
That foods might provide therapeutic benefits is clearly not a new concept. ...
|
|
|
|
|