Over 3.4 lakh imported DES distributed in India in 2017: NPPA

Drug eluting stents (DES) with landed cost between Rs 15,001 and Rs 20,000 accounted for 45 per cent of total sales of the imported medical device in India in 2017, according to national drug pricing regulator.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) also said contrary to the hype of stents imported from China garnering major portion of sales, the country accounted for a meagre one per cent of the total stents distributed in India last year.

Out of a total of 4,04,144 drug eluting stents imported last year, a total of 3,41,229 units were distributed, the NPPA said in a tweet.

Of these, the NPPA said 1,51,898 units priced between Rs 15,001 and Rs 20,000 were distributed, accounting for 45 per cent of the total sales.

The second most sold was DES priced up to Rs 15,000 at 1,10,289 units, garnering 32 per cent of the sales, it added.

On the other hand, the most expensive DES with import prices ranging from Rs 35,000 and above constituted only 4 per cent, selling only 14,105 units, it added.

The drug price regulator further said DES with import prices ranging between Rs 25,001 and Rs 30,000 constituted 8 per cent of the total sales at 27,745 units, while those priced from Rs 20,001 to Rs 25,000 accounted for 6 per cent of the total sales at 19,357 units.

Sales of DES with import prices between Rs 30,001 and Rs 35,000 stood at 17,835 units, comprising 5 per cent of the total sales in 2017.

Out of the total stents imported and manufactured in the country, Indian manufacturers distributed 61 per cent of the total stents in 2017, followed by the US MNCs which distributed 33 per cent of the total stents distributed last year.

Referring to China, the NPPA said, "The much hyped and feared country's share only 1 per cent." Other non-US multi-national companies distributed 5 per cent of the total stents in the previous year, NPPA said. As per NPPA, a total of 8,92,358 stents were distributed in India last year.