COURSTEY Feb 24 2017 : The Times of India (Chandigarh)
Hospitals, PGI under lens for overcharging patients for stents
Sushmi Dey
New Delhi


Some of the country's most prestigious hospitals are under the scanner of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for allegedly overcharging patients for stents. The regulator has initiated a probe against hospitals including PGIMER Chandigarh; Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai; Max Hospital in Saket, Delhi; Metro Hospital in Faridabad and Ballabhgarh (Haryana); and Ram Murti Hospital in Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh).
Disclosing the names on its official twitter handle late evening on Thursday , the NPPA said it has received complaints against these hospitals and have alerted concerned state drug regulators.

The NPPA received the complaints against the hospitals through its helpline, an official source told TOI.

However, it maintained, “NPPA has got no complaints of shortage of stents from any place so far. Supply and availability has been ensured“.

Another tweet by the central drug pricing authority said the Haryana state drug controller has assured the NPPA that complaints have already been forwarded to the concerned officers and will be investigated by Friday .

Department of pharma secretary J P Prakash told TOI action will depend on the extent of violation. “There are different provisions under the Essential Commodities Act as well as under the DPCO“. The penalty can vary from can cellation of manufacturing or import license to black listing.Under DPCO, there are also provisions for penalty which includes recovery of overcharged amount along with a 15% interest penalty, he said. After price capping of stents, the NPPA mandated hospitals to put up a new price list for all stents at a conspicuous place accessible to all.

The companies were also asked to immediately send the revised list to hospitals, in order to maintain transparency.