All Implants, Pacemakers, CT Scan, MRI, Endoscopes May Come Under Price Control

India may soon expand the list of medical devices on which price controls can be imposed. A technical advisory body of the Central government, Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), has recommended that the list of such medical devices should include all implantable medical devices, Pacemakers, CT scan equipment, MRI equipment, defibrillators, dialysis machine, PET equipment, Endoscopes and X-Ray machines.

Once these medical devices and other high end equipments come under the purview of Section 3(b)(iv) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, it can be deemed as drugs for the purpose of price control under the Drugs (Price Control) Order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.The medical devices that are already in this list are cardiac stents, syringes, needles, perfusion sets, HIV diagnostic kits, heart valves, orthopedic implants, blood component bags, etc. The Drug Testing…