Stents, pacemakers, orthopedic implants to be included in DPCO

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 on Thursday.

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.

"The Narendra Modi government wants to end this mafia. Therefore, we have decided and we are taking actions...All medical devices and implants also in Drug Price Control...We will bring them in the national list of essential medicines," he said.

He made this announcement here at a function organised by the district BJP unit to celebrate one year of Narendra Modi government.

Ananth Kumar said the Centre has taken generic medicine distribution scheme as a national campaign and wants to provide life-saving medical devices also in affordable prices to millions of poor in the country.

"...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 announcing the decision.

Medical devices are covered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act but there is no law governing their prices.

The government's decision is expected to have a huge impact in the country's medical device market, which was pegged at USD 6.3 billion in 2013 and growing annually at 10-12 percent.

The Minister said the Centre wanted to open 3,000 Jan Aushadhi centres through out the country to provide essential medicines to poor in an affordable price and it has already signed a memorandum with seven states.

Asking Congress-ruled Kerala to sign a memorandum with the Centre to open Jan Aushadhi centres in all district and taluk government hospitals, he said, "We will give Rs 2.50 lakh per centre...So that you can open the general service centre."

"Government of India...Through pharma ministry will provide all the medicines to you... 507 types of medicines at 60 per cent less of the market cost," he said.
The Minister said if any trust or NGO comes forward, "yes we are ready to sign an MoU with them also" to open open Jan Aushadhi centres in hospitals run by them.