.webp)
The health and family welfare ministry has taken up a massive plan to accelerate universal health coverage in the country, as the government is committed to achieve this target by 2032.
As part of this initiative, last week, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) set the prices of 129 intraocular lenses used for cataract surgeries, and cut the prices of cardiac stents by up to 46 per cent.
DGDA sources say any institution or hospital caught selling stents at prices higher than the fixed rate may face penalties under the Drug and Cosmetics Act, with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of Tk 2 lakh or both.
The administration had worked for several months to evaluate the prices of the cardiac stents, and found that the prices were too high, especially in comparison to the prices in neighbouring countries.
DGDA Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Yousuf had recently directed all hospitals to display the new prices on their noticeboards.
Health experts have welcomed the ministry's move to reduce the prices of stents and intraocular lenses, adding that the move will help the underprivileged segment of the population to get life-saving treatment at lower costs.
At the same time, experts asked the government to strictly ensure the quality of stents and lenses. Without a firm quality control, there is a chance sub-standard medical devices could flood the local markets. This in turn would be disastrous for the patients.
Speaking to The Business Post, Directorate General of the Health Services (DGHS) Director General Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said, “We will gradually reduce the prices of such devices to bring the country under universal health coverage.
“We are working to ensure quality healthcare for everyone in the country. We will enhance our capacity to check substandard medicine and other devices such as intraocular lenses and stents. You will see a revolutionary change in the coming years.”
The hospital must keep separate cash memos for coronary stents and lenses to ensure transparency. Hospitals will also have to inform patients about the retail price and manufacturer of the stent being used.
The ministry will take stern action against those violating this directive, insiders say.
According to the DGDA, the price of the Alex Plus cardiac stent has been set at Tk 53,000 from Tk 80,000, Ultimaster from Tk 63,000 to Tk 60,000, Coroflex ISAR Coronary Stent System from Tk 59,119.40 to Tk 53,000, Resolute Integrity from Tk 108,160.40 to Tk 78,400, and the Bio Freedom from Tk 121,600 to Tk 65,000.
About 45,000 cardiac stents are used in different hospitals across the country each year.
A total of 49 out of 129 lenses are imported from the USA, 42 types of lenses from India. 11 from the UK, four from Thailand, Belgium, Germany, Barbados and Hungary, two types from Singapore, Japan and Greece and one from Spain.
The ministry will set up 100-bed cancer hospitals in all eight divisional cities. Cardiac and kidney facilities are being incorporated into these ongoing medical projects.
What do experts say?
On the matter, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Public Health Expert and Advisor Dr M Mushtuq Hossain said, “The government is committed to ensure universal health coverage by 2032.
“To achieve this, the government must ensure healthcare for all. This is a praiseworthy initiative by the health ministry to reduce the costs of cataract surgeries and cardiac stents. But it will be disastrous if the dishonest businessmen supply substandard devices.”
He added, “A strong monitoring team should be always on alert to check imported medical devices. The initiative of decreasing device prices will be in vain if the ministry fails to ensure imports of quality products.”
Senior public health expert Dr Abu Jamil Faisal said, “It is good news that the government is reducing the costs of some cataract surgeries and cardiac stent prices. The government should take more steps to reduce prices of all kinds of medicines as well.
“It will also be disastrous for the country if low-quality products are provided by the hospitals, as implants of substandard medical devices could prove fatal for many patients. So, the ministry must ensure the quality of devices being used in cataract and heart surgeries.”
