The first knee surgery that Gyan Singh, 76, underwent left his daughter and son-in-law nearly bankrupt. In dire need of another implant, Singh was at his wits’end when the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s (NPPA) decision to slash prices of knee implants came as a blessing at just the right time. Earlier, a standard knee replacement cost Rs 158,324 but thanks to the government regulatory agency, it will now cost Rs 54,720 — almost one-third of the prevalent rate. To add to their woes, Singh’s knee got infected as he is a diabetic. But after the implant rates were slashed, Singh’s second surgery, which was conducted last week, cost 65 per cent less than the first one.

Source: dna August 28, 2017 02:48 UTC