Modi's help sought over Cochlear implant prices
Last Updated IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI file photo
Doctors and public health campaigners have written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to bring down the prices of Cochlear implants that now cost more than Rs 5 lakh on an average.
The exorbitant prices of these implants keep them away from scores of families with deaf children as an estimated one lakh Indian kids are born each year with hearing impairment. The prices of Cochlear implants have not dropped for the past 17 years.
A Karnataka-based ENT surgeon last month wrote to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention. “My petition has been forwarded to an official in the health ministry,” N B Prahlada, a Chitradurga based doctor who petitioned the Prime Minister, told DH.
“The landing prices of these implants are around Rs 2.85-3 lakhs, but sold at a price of Rs 5.5 lakh or upwards. These devices are manufactured by four companies, who import them in India and sell to a select group of ENT surgeons and hospitals,” he said. There are four companies that manufacture these devices.
A comparison of the landing prices of Cochlear implants shows that the companies make a profit between Rs 73,000 to Rs 200,000 on each of these implants.
“The hospitals charge an additional handling fee, which may vary anywhere between 5-50%,” said Malini Aisola from the All India Drug Action Network.
Prahlada said he was writing to the professional medical societies and government bodies for a long time, highlighting the irregularities, but received little response. He renewed his attempts in the wake of the central government's decision to impose price control on coronary stents.
Within the last eight months, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed the ceiling prices of coronary stents and a whole set of knee implants, making them more affordable.
The public health activists now want the government to undertake similar price control measures on other items.
Cochlear implants were one of the medical devices whose price control was recommended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration way back in 2011. In a letter to the Drugs Controller (General) of India, the state agency suggested fixing the maximum retail price of these implants on the basis of the principles of Drugs (Price Control) Order.
“At present, only 3000-5000 children are being implanted through both central and several state governments provide financial assistance. This is because of two main reasons - the exorbitant price of the device and the monopoly business by these companies in association some doctors,” Prahlada said.
The exorbitant prices of these implants keep them away from scores of families with deaf children as an estimated one lakh Indian kids are born each year with hearing impairment. The prices of Cochlear implants have not dropped for the past 17 years.
A Karnataka-based ENT surgeon last month wrote to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention. “My petition has been forwarded to an official in the health ministry,” N B Prahlada, a Chitradurga based doctor who petitioned the Prime Minister, told DH.
“The landing prices of these implants are around Rs 2.85-3 lakhs, but sold at a price of Rs 5.5 lakh or upwards. These devices are manufactured by four companies, who import them in India and sell to a select group of ENT surgeons and hospitals,” he said. There are four companies that manufacture these devices.
A comparison of the landing prices of Cochlear implants shows that the companies make a profit between Rs 73,000 to Rs 200,000 on each of these implants.
“The hospitals charge an additional handling fee, which may vary anywhere between 5-50%,” said Malini Aisola from the All India Drug Action Network.
Prahlada said he was writing to the professional medical societies and government bodies for a long time, highlighting the irregularities, but received little response. He renewed his attempts in the wake of the central government's decision to impose price control on coronary stents.
Within the last eight months, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed the ceiling prices of coronary stents and a whole set of knee implants, making them more affordable.
The public health activists now want the government to undertake similar price control measures on other items.
Cochlear implants were one of the medical devices whose price control was recommended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration way back in 2011. In a letter to the Drugs Controller (General) of India, the state agency suggested fixing the maximum retail price of these implants on the basis of the principles of Drugs (Price Control) Order.
“At present, only 3000-5000 children are being implanted through both central and several state governments provide financial assistance. This is because of two main reasons - the exorbitant price of the device and the monopoly business by these companies in association some doctors,” Prahlada said.