The government has revised the prices of coronary stents from three major US companies, slashing the cost of each stent by Tk 3,000 to Tk 88,000, providing much-needed relief to heart patients.
The prices of 10 types of stents from Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic have been revised, says a statement from the health ministry.
It also said hospitals will also not be allowed to charge more than five percent in service fees.
Meanwhile, the ministry issued a letter instructing the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to monitor compliance with the new prices.
Stents from both the US and EU are available in Bangladesh, but the expert committee found that stents from US companies were priced significantly higher and subsequently recommended a price reduction.