New prices for 10 types of heart stents to take effect from Oct 1

Costs have been lowered by Tk 3,000 to Tk 88,000

Revised prices for 10 types of coronary stents made by three companies are set to take effect on Oct 1, according to the Directorate General of Drug Administration.

The decision follows applications from stent importers.

On Aug 3, the government reduced the prices of the 10 types of stents, lowering costs by Tk 3,000 to Tk 88,000.

At a press conference held at the directorate’s offices in Mohakhali on Tuesday, the agency’s director Md Akhter Hossain said an expert advisory committee was formed on Apr 16 to keep prices at a tolerable level and maintain supply.

Stents from American companies Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Abbott, which are common in the Bangladeshi market and relatively expensive, were reviewed first.

The prices of 10 products from the three companies were revised on Aug 3.

Importers, however, still have stents in stock, Hossain said, prompting them to seek more time before implementing the lower prices.

“They say they have stocks of stents purchased at the previous price, some for six months, some for three years,” he said.

“On the other hand, since the issue of price reduction was publicised in the media, the relatives of patients are pressuring hospitals to provide stents at the new price.”

After the ministry was consulted, it instructed that the new prices be enforced from Oct 1, he said.

Bangladesh needs at least 45,000 coronary stents annually, with 31 registered companies importing them, according to Hossain.

The three companies in the review account for about half of the imports, which is why their prices were reduced first.

Prices for stents from other companies are now being reviewed, and a decision is expected soon, he added.