Govt cuts prices of 10 cardiac stents by up to 47%
The move comes amid concerns that stents are significantly more expensive in Bangladesh compared to India.
The government has revised the maximum retail prices of 10 coronary stents from Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic, following recommendations from a specialist advisory committee and analysis of both international and domestic market prices.
Bite-Sized: List of 10 cardiac stent prices that were cut by the govt up to 47%
A coronary stent is a small mesh tube placed in a narrowed or blocked artery to keep it open and help blood flow better to the heart in patients with heart disease.
The prices of these stents have been reduced by up to 46.8%, with cuts ranging between Tk3,000 and Tk88,000. The new prices include taxes, VAT, various charges, and reasonable company profit margins, the health ministry said in a notice today.
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Key price changes include Resolute Onyx (Medtronic), which has been reduced from Tk140,500 to Tk90,000; Promus Elite (Boston Scientific), from Tk79,000 to Tk72,000; Synergy XID (Boston Scientific), from Tk188,000 to Tk100,000; Xience Prime (Abbott), from Tk66,600 to Tk50,000; and Onyx Trucor (Medtronic), from Tk72,500 to Tk50,000.
Five other models from Boston Scientific and Abbott have also seen significant price reductions.
This move comes amid concerns that stents are significantly more expensive in Bangladesh compared to India.
The health ministry has instructed that the new price list be widely displayed, and hospitals are barred from charging more than 5% as service fees for stent procedures.
It has also ordered strict monitoring to ensure that cardiovascular and neuro-implant devices are not sold above the approved maximum retail price.
Earlier, on 3 April 2024, the Directorate General of Drug Administration had reduced the prices of 23 coronary stents.
