NPPA fines Faridabad hospital for overcharging patients for stents

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has sent a notice to Faridabad's Metro Heart Institute, asking them to pay approximately Rs. 1.26 lakh as fine to the department of pharmaceuticals for allegedly overcharging patients for stents.

As per the statement issued by the pharmaceutical watchdog on Thursday, the hospital apparently overcharged two patients and made one pay Rs. 60,000 for a stent, while another was billed Rs. 1.25 lakh.

This came after the NPPA had on February 14 slashed the price of drug-eluting stents at Rs. 29,600 and bare metal at Rs. 7,000.

"It is reiterated that. for the implementation of a price cap, the effective date is the date of billing and not the date of angioplasty. If a patient has angioplasty done before February 14, 2017, and billed on February 14, 2017, or after, the patient will mandatorily get the benefit of the revised prices," read the notice issued by the NPPA.