AMN
After capping the prices of stents used in cardiac surgery, the government in a major relief to patients suffering from knee problems, the government today capped the prices of orthopaedic knee implants. It has declared the capped prices of different knee implant surgeries. Now, the most widely used Cobalt chromium knee implant will cost around 55 thousand rupees instead of current average price of over 1.58 lakh rupees. Titanium Oxidized Zirconium surgery implant has been capped at 76,600 rupees against the current average prices of 2.5 to 4.50 lakh rupees.
The High flexibility implant costing from 1.80 to 4.5 lakh rupees has been capped at 56,490 rupees. The revision implants for second surgery has been capped at over 1.13 lakh rupees. Besides, the Specialized implants for cancer and tumor will be charged at over 1.13 lakh.
Announcing the decision, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar said the decision will help check unethical profiteering in the implant surgery. It will benefit around 1.5 to 2 crore knee patients and will be applicable for all the operations being done today or if done earlier, but billed today.
Mr Kumar said the punitive action including cancellation of licences and initiation of criminal proceedings, will be taken against the hospitals which overcharge. He also urged all hospitals, doctors and producers to join hands with the government to ensure zero profiteering and maximum health benefit to the common man.
The decision was taken by the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority following the Prime Minister’s indication in this regard during this year’s Independence Day speech.
Earlier, the government had capped the prices of stents used in cardiac surgery. The Minister informed that 39 hospitals across the country have been issued notices for over charging.
Kumar informed that it is estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that by 2020, osteoarthritis is going to be the fourth largest cause of immobility in the world. India has about 1.2 to 1.5 crore orthopaedic patients who require orthopaedic implant surgery. Most of the diagnosed people requiring knee surgery are not able to afford because of very high cost. Government is reforming this state of affairs putting a ceiling on knee implants from today, the Minister added.
Kumar said that the Government expects full cooperation from all the stakeholders including importers, distributors, retailers, hospitals etc. in ensuring that the benefit of reduction of prices of knee implants reaches the last man. The Minister added that all complaints of overcharging would be strictly monitored and the overcharged amount would be recovered from erring parties with an interest of 18% over it. A step further, Shri Kumar added that the Government might also consider cancelling of licenses and initiate criminal proceedings against stakeholders engaged in unethical profiteering.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Shri Jai Priye Prakash, Secretary Pharmaceuticals and Shri Bhupendra Singh, Chairman NPPA.