The most widely used method of heart treatment is a stent or ring. If there is a bump or obstruction in blood circulation in someone's heart, the doctor advises him to wear one or more rings. Generally, traders import these from Europe and America in Bangladesh. The price list of which is drawn in different hospitals. According to the patient's decision, the doctors transplanted the ring selected from this list to the patient's heart. The price of rings also varies according to quality, type and country.
Although the price fixation of rings was largely on the supply companies, the Department of Drug Administration has recently issued a new notification regarding the maximum retail price of heart rings, in which the price of all types of rings has been reduced from a minimum of Tk 13,000 to a maximum of Tk 41,000 compared to the previous price. After this price fixation of the drug administration, a dispute has arisen between the ring supplier company and the drug administration.
Bangladesh imports 35 percent of rings from the United States. The remaining 65 percent is imported from different countries of Europe, Japan, South Korea and India. The new price list shows that 27 companies have got permission to import these rings. There is a price of US rings ranging from Tk 20,000 to Tk 1,40,500. And the price of other rings ranges from a minimum of Tk 14,000 to the highest Irish ring of Tk 1,40,500. However, each country's ring is divided into different categories. And the price fluctuates according to the category.
Most of the suppliers importing rings from Europe have announced that they will not supply rings to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital, Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and National Heart Foundation since the new price fixed. However, companies importing rings from the United States claim that they are keeping the supply of rings normal.
One of the ring importers from different countries, including Europe, except the United States, said on condition of anonymity that the Department of Drug Administration has fixed the maximum retail price of stents for 27 importing companies in the country. An analysis of the data published by the directorate showed that the national policy or markup formula was followed in determining the price of only three companies. The price of the same quality of these three stents in the US stands at almost three times that of India. The markup formula was not followed in fixing the price of stents of the remaining 24 importing companies. Even then, the price fixed is at least Tk 3,000 to three times higher than the current price in India. But the price of two brands of stents made in India has been estimated at Tk 11,000 less than the price sold in India.
After the price fixation of heart rings came into effect from December 16, the matter went up to the High Court. On December 18, 11 importers, including Ocean Life Limited, filed a writ petition with the High Court expressing their dissatisfaction with the discriminatory prices of the Directorate General of Drug Administration. The secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the director general of the Directorate General of Drug Administration and seven organizations and a person were made defendants in the petition. The defendants have been asked to reply to the rule within two weeks. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission said that the sale of heart rings and unnecessary surgery at a higher price than the fixed price is a violation of human rights. The increase in the price of rings can create conditions that undermine the right to life of the common people, which is a clear violation of human rights.
Md Anwar Hossain, convener of the Medical Device Importers Association of Bangladesh, told The Daily Post that all products have different types. The price of the product also varies according to the quality and type. The Drug Administration has a markup formula for pricing drugs and pharmaceutical products. According to that markup formula, they determine the price. The emergency product can be made available to the consumer if the price is fixed through discussion with the importer and supplier.
Md Nurul Alam, deputy director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, told The Daily Post that there was no clear idea among the people about the use and category of heart rings. We have been giving a guideline on heart rings since 2017. A 13-member committee, including heart specialists, was formed to prevent the anarchy that was going on with the price of heart rings. Suppliers were charging 45 percent more which does not suit our country in any way. In neighboring countries, the price of heart rings is low, so many people go there to read heart rings. This is how the country's money is going out. The expert committee has fixed the price of heart rings considering our importers, suppliers and consumers.
ARS
