Bangladesh Lowers Prices of Cardiac Stents, Issues New Maximum Retail Price List

The government of Bangladesh has revised the prices of cardiac stents, reducing the cost of several widely used models and publishing a new maximum retail price (MRP) list aimed at improving transparency in heart disease treatment.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) announced the updated pricing through an official gazette signed by its Director General, Md Alamgir Hossain, on Monday (9 June). The decision was made following recommendations from a committee under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Cardiac stents, commonly known as heart rings, are small tube-shaped medical devices inserted into coronary arteries to keep them open and maintain proper blood flow in patients suffering from coronary artery disease.
 

According to the revised pricing structure, several commonly used stents have seen price reductions ranging from approximately BDT 3,000 to BDT 5,000. Some stents previously priced at around BDT 60,000 will now be sold for about BDT 57,000, while others priced at BDT 55,000 and BDT 53,500 have been reduced to BDT 52,000 and BDT 50,000 respectively.
 

The most significant price cut applies to the “Cyline Covered Stent” manufactured by US-based InSitu Technologies Inc., which has been reduced from BDT 109,800 to BDT 62,000.

The updated list includes stents imported and distributed by companies such as Advanced Meditech, Asia Pacific Medics Ltd, and Alliance Medicare. The products originate from several countries including the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, and Poland.

Authorities have instructed all hospitals to display the updated price list prominently on notice boards for public awareness. They have also directed healthcare providers to ensure that stents are sold strictly at the approved MRP and not bundled into treatment packages without itemised billing.

Hospitals have further been instructed to issue separate cash memos for stent sales, clearly mentioning the product name, manufacturer, and maximum retail price. In addition, hospitals must provide patients with the packaging of the stent used during treatment to ensure accountability and transparency.

The DGDA has urged all cardiac treatment facilities to strictly comply with the new pricing framework and regulatory guidelines, stating that enforcement will be monitored to ensure patients are not overcharged for critical life-saving devices.