NEW DELHI: The government has invoked special powers under the law to prohibit stent makers from withdrawing their products from the market for the next six months.
Amid reports that several manufacturers, including Abbott and Medtronic, are seeking to withdraw premium, high-priced stents from the Indian market on account of the price cap imposed by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), the government has directed companies to maintain production, import and supply of coronary stents to avoid any shortage.
Besides, the companies have also been directed to submit a weekly report on coronary stents produced and distributed, along with the production plan for the next week to the NPPA and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) said it had come across reports regarding shortage of coronary stents in the market and in hospitals. "After due deliberations on the current situation and the alternatives available with the government to resume normal supply of the coronary stents, it has been decided to invoke the powers of Section 3 (i) of DPCO, 2013…," the DoP said in a letter issued to Abbott Healthcare.
Sources said similar letters had been sent to all stent manufacturers.
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