New Delhi: The Government has stated that there is currently no proposal under consideration to implement a “One Nation, One Price” framework for essential medical devices, even as it continues to regulate prices to curb high trade margins and ensure affordability.Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, said that the issue of high trade margins in essential medical devices such as coronary stents and knee implants has been addressed through existing regulatory mechanisms.The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), functioning under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, fixes ceiling prices of drugs and medical devices listed under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and incorporated in Schedule I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. Coronary stents, including Bare Metal Stents (BMS) and Drug Eluting Stents (DES), are covered under this framework. The current ceiling prices are ₹10,692.69 for BMS and ₹38,933.14 for DES, applicable nationwide.The government has mandated that all manufacturers, importers, and marketers adhere strictly to these ceiling prices, excluding applicable GST. Hospitals and healthcare institutions performing angioplasty procedures are also required to comply with these price caps and must clearly mention details such as stent category, brand name, manufacturer, batch number, and cost in patient bills.Also Read: NPPA Panel Recommends 5-Year Price Control Exemption for Intas’ Clozapine ER CapsulesAdditionally, the NPPA has capped prices for orthopaedic knee implants since August 2017, a measure that has been extended until November 15, 2026, or until further orders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trade margins on devices such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure monitors, nebulizers, digital thermometers, and glucometers were also regulated under trade margin rationalisation provisions.For non-scheduled medical devices, manufacturers are not allowed to increase the maximum retail price by more than 10% within a 12-month period. The NPPA continuously monitors pricing and takes action against overcharging based on complaints, market data, and inputs from state-level monitoring units.The reply clarified that while multiple regulatory measures are in place to control pricing and prevent profiteering, the government is not currently considering a uniform nationwide pricing model for all essential medical devices.Also Read: NPPA Fixes Retail Rates for 36 Key Drugs Like Atorvastatin, Dapagliflozin, Gemcitabine