The FDA’s probe report, which established the chain of profit sharing in Maharashtra’s stent industry, eventually set the plan in action to bringing stents under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and finally led to the nationwide cap on prices. While the profit margin earned by manufacturers was about 48.13% to 298.72%, distributors in turn made anything between 60% and 371% profits by selling the stents to the seven hospitals. “Since the hospitals legally didn’t have a drug distribution license, the stents would be imported under a different banner. Finally, in December 2016, both the Bare Metal Stent (BMS) and Drug Eluting Stent (DES) were included in the NLEM and the prices were capped this month. Read more: Shortage of advanced stents delays heart surgeries in MumbaiWith international stents being withdrawn, Indian manufacturers step up production

Source: Hindustan Times February 21, 2017 04:30 UTC