After capping prices of cardiac stents, Government of India is planning to cap the prices of Knee implants. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPAA) has indicated that importers, distributors and hospitals are earning hefty trade margins from Knee implants. To make Total Knee Replacemet (TKR) affordable, Government is seriously thinking to cap price of Knee implants. NPPA's analysis of the price data for knee implants forms a strong basis for the government to bring them under price control. Now the ball is in court of union health ministry to consider about the analysis.
Dr. Dhiraj Marothi, Senior orthopaedic surgeon of Shalby Hospital and visiting faculty of University of Dundee, UK says that if Government of India caps price of Knee implant, the decision will be really beneficial to the patients. Various types of Knee implants are available in the price range of Rs. 80,000 to 2,50,000. The Knee implant surgery costs average around Rs. 2,00,000. If the Knee implant price is capped at Rs. 50,000, then average cost of Knee implant surgery may be reduced to around Rs. 1,00,000.
Indian population are facing severe arthritis problems, but only 10 to 20 % of them could be treated. This has become a big factor due to the cost of implant. Earlier people were believing that surgeons may be benefited from the implant, but in fact the data shows distributors and hospitals earning the maximum margin. Thus if the price of Knee implant is capped then patients of middle class and lower middle class families can also afford the cost of Knee implant & surgery, Dr Marothi said.