Cardiac stent prices hiked

Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has hiked the prices of cardiac stent by 13-25 percent, reversing its earlier announcement of lowering the prices.

In a gazette published on Tuesday, the directorate increased the prices by Tk2,000 to Tk10,000 depending on the type.

According to the notification, the directorate finalised the new prices for 23 types of stents from European manufacturers.

On December 12, the price of the Alex Plus stent was set at Tk53,000. Now the new price of that stent is Tk60,000, which was Tk63,500 in 2021.

Similarly, the price of the Ultimaster Tansei stent has increased from Tk60,000 to Tk66,000, and the Direct Stent Siro now costs Tk66,000, up from Tk55,000.

On December 12, the drug administration directorate reduced prices for 44 types of heart stents from 27 manufacturers, effective from 16 December.

Europe-sourced importers immediately contested the reduction, pressuring hospitals not to use their stents and filing a writ with the High Court.

While the writ was withdrawn in January, the health secretary after a meeting on February 27 announced that heart rings have to be sold at the prices fixed in December.