AiMeD welcomes the move, MTal not in favour of it
The government recently capped prices of knee implants at a significantly lower rate than current market rates, a move that could result in savings of Rs 1,500 crore annually to patients requiring surgery. The move has received mixed reactions.
Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) has welcomed government’s move to cap prices of orthopaedic knee implants for ensuring no profiteering and affordable access.
“Prices are reasonable and we are with the government. We believe this price cap will help every person of the country who needs implants.” But, said “without reduction in total procedure cost by hospitals the move may not yield the desired results,” stated Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD.
Cautioning the government, Nath said, “The government also needs to weed out unlicensed suppliers who will not have a Quality Management System (QMS) certified facility and play its role as regulator. There are many such unlicensed manufacturers of orthopaedic implants functioning in India but only Maharashtra FDA acted against them.”
Nath also urged the government not to take ‘piecemeal approach’ of fixing prices item by item, and instead should consider a holistic systemic change. He also enquired about other implants and other devices, including consumables and disposables.
On the other hand, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) is against price control. MTal expected the regulator to have waited for preliminary proposal that was committed in recently at their meeting before this decision. MTal, in fact, shared with the NPPA their initial proposal for classification into eight to nine different categories. MTal strongly feels that there was merit in looking at different categories to classify and allow free market economy principles for companies to compete.
MTaI reiterates that any patient access measure should be collaborative and consultative, based on mutual trust and respect, and involve all stakeholders. This will allow them to take decisions which really ensure enduring benefits for the patient.