Staff Correspondent:

The government has revised the maximum retail prices of 10 coronary stents from Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic, following recommendations from a specialist advisory committee and analysis of international and domestic market prices.

The new prices include taxes, VAT, various charges, and reasonable company profit margins, the health ministry said in a notice on Monday (August 4).

The move comes amid concerns that stents are significantly more expensive in Bangladesh compared to India.

THE KEY PRICE CHANGES ARE:

Resolute Onyx (Medtronic): Reduced from Tk 140,500 to Tk 90,000

Promus Elite (Boston Scientific): Tk 79,000 to Tk 72,000

Synergy XID (Boston Scientific): Tk 188,000 to Tk 100,000

Xience Prime (Abbott): Tk 66,600 to Tk 50,000

Onyx Trucor (Medtronic): Tk 72,500 to Tk 50,000

Several other models from Boston Scientific and Abbott have also seen significant price reductions.

The Health Ministry has instructed that the new price list be widely displayed, and hospitals are barred from charging more than 5% as service fees for stent procedures.

It also ordered strict monitoring to ensure that cardiovascular and neuro-implant devices are not sold above the approved MRP.