The government has reduced the prices of coronary stents used in cardiac treatment, making the life-saving device more affordable for patients across the country.

The decision was formally announced in a circular signed by Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Monday.

According to the circular, the retail prices of 11 types of stents from three companies have been revised downward. Depending on the importing company, retail prices have dropped by a minimum of Tk 3,000 and a maximum of Tk 88,000, with the new price ceiling set at Tk 100,000.

Among the revised prices, Medtronic’s ‘Resolute Onyx’ stent, previously priced at Tk 140,500, will now be sold at Tk 90,000. Boston Scientific’s ‘Promus Elite’ has been reduced from Tk 79,000 to Tk 72,000, while its ‘Promus Premier’ model has dropped from Tk 73,000 to Tk 70,000.

A significant adjustment was made to the price of the ‘Synergy XD’ stent under the Synergy series, which previously cost Tk 188,000 and will now retail for Tk 100,000. Meanwhile, the prices of the ‘Synergy’ and ‘Synergy Shield’ models have been reduced to Tk 90,000 from their earlier prices of Tk 117,000 and Tk 120,000 respectively.

In the Abbott product line, the ‘Xience Prime’ stent price has been brought down from Tk 66,600 to Tk 50,000. However, the ‘Xience Expedition’ stent remains unchanged at Tk 71,500.

Prices of ‘Xience Alpine’ and ‘Xience Sierra’ stents, previously set at Tk 140,500 and Tk 140,000 respectively, have each been reduced to Tk 90,000. Additionally, Medtronic’s ‘Onyx Trucut’ stent, earlier priced at Tk 72,500, will now be available for Tk 50,000.

The move is expected to ease the financial burden on heart patients and improve access to cardiac care in both public and private healthcare facilities.

MSK/