2 hrs ago
Medical Device Industry Seeks Overhaul of Pricing Rules
Some hospitals are charging patients much more for certain medical supplies than the hospitals paid for them.
A Maharashtra survey found that one type of IV set was bought for about ₹11 but billed at ₹325.
Other supplies, including syringes, needles, masks, and filters, also had large price differences.
Maharashtra FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe asked national regulators to review these prices.
He suggested limits on trade margins and better monitoring of device prices.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry supported his proposal.
The group said patients should pay fair prices and that the industry should remain competitive.
Regulators are being asked to decide whether some essential devices need stronger price controls.
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry backed Tukaram Mundhe’s call for a national review of medical device pricing rules.
A Maharashtra survey found private hospitals charging markups of up to 2,841% on some surgical consumables.
Standard IV infusion sets bought for ₹11.05 were billed to patients at ₹325.
Mundhe urged trade-margin rationalization, structured price monitoring, and possible regulation of essential devices.
The devices affected generally fall outside the direct ceiling-price mechanism under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
- Who
- Maharashtra FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
- What
- The medical device industry supported a proposed national overhaul of pricing rules after a survey found very high markups on hospital-sold surgical consumables.
- Where
- The survey covered private hospitals in Maharashtra, while the proposed pricing review would apply nationally in India.
- When
- The industry’s statement was issued late Tuesday; the survey and Mundhe’s appeal were reported in the article without a specific date.
- Why
- To address large differences between hospitals’ procurement costs and the prices charged to patients, and to improve transparency and affordability.
Key facts
- Highest reported markup
- 2,841% on a standard IV infusion set
- Example procurement price
- An IV infusion set was bought for ₹11.05
- Example patient price
- The same type of IV infusion set was billed at ₹325
- Industry representative
- Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, representing 1,000 member companies
- Proposed measures
- Trade-margin rationalization, structured price monitoring, and possible regulation of essential devices
- Current regulatory gap
- The devices generally fall outside the direct ceiling-price mechanism of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013
- Estimated market size
- India’s medical devices market is valued at around $18 billion
Quotes
Association of Indian Medical Device Industry
Industry association representing approximately 1,000 medical-device companies.
“We urge regulators and policymakers to act on Mr Mundhe’s call by instituting structured price monitoring and margin rationalization, starting with some pilot studies on AiMeDs proposals as policy making by evidence. Patients deserve fair prices, not inflated margins, and India deserves a medical device ecosystem that is affordable, ethical, and globally competitive,”
livemint.com
Tukaram Mundhe
Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration commissioner.
“Based on our field findings, I have submitted the survey to the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the NPPA, seeking appropriate intervention; including rationalization of trade margins, structured price monitoring and, where warranted, bringing essential medical devices within an effective price-regulation framework. Healthcare pricing must be transparent, rational and fair. Information asymmetry should never become a source of avoidable financial burden for a patient.”
livemint.com
Sources
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