Lok Sabha Question No. 4426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Overcharging for Angioplasty
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4426 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th  January, 2019

## Overcharging for Angioplasty

4426.  SHRI B.V. NAIK:

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government  is  aware  that  private hospitals still continue to overcharge  from  parents  for  angioplasty  despite  the  fact  that  the  Government has slashed the prices of cardiac stents to the tune of 75 per cent;
- (b) if so, the number of complaints received by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority in this regard against such hospitals;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action against the said hospitals; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY  OF  SHIPPING  AND  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a): National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), vide its notification no. S.O. 412(E),  dated  13 th February,  2017,  fixed  the  ceiling  price  of  the  Coronary  Stents. Further, NPPA, vide its notification S.O. 639 (E) dated 12/02/2018, re-fixed the ceiling price  of  the  Coronary  Stents  under  para  19  of  Drugs  (Prices  Control)  Order,  2013 (DPCO,  2013).  Institutions  such  as  hospitals/nursing  homes/clinics  utilizing  Coronary Stents for angioplasty are bound to abide by the ceiling prices fixed by the Government for coronary stents. Perusal of the itemised hospital bills and related documents which have  been  received  from  the  hospitals/nursing  homes/clinics  in  connection  with  the complaints received for overcharging of stents reveal that there is usually no overcharging on coronary stents. So far, only in two cases, one hospital has marginally overcharged  two  patients  and  subsequently  the  overcharged  amount  has  been refunded to the patients by the hospital.

(b) to (d): A total of 40 complaints have been received in NPPA alleging overpricing by hospitals for coronary stents during 2016-17. However, no new complaint has been brought to the attention of NPPA since then. The Government is effectively monitoring the  implementation  of  ceiling  prices  fixed  for  coronary  stents.  As  and  when  such incidents  of  overpricing  by  hospitals  for  coronary  stents  are  reported  to  NPPA, appropriate actions are taken under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013).

Public  Health  being  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  of  supply  of medicines and management of hospitals lies with the State/Union Territory Governments.  However,  the  National  Council  for  Clinical  Establishments,  Ministry  of Health  & Family  Welfare (MoH&FW)  has  approved  a  standard  list of medical procedures and a standard template for costing of medical procedures and the same have been shared with the States for appropriate action.

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