Medical device makers want 50% cap in trade margins to reduce imports

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has begun collecting data from device makers

Ahead of a meeting on Thursday by the Department of Pharmaceuticals on permissible trade margins for medical devices, domestic manufacturers have suggested three categories in this regard.

Their association suggests trade margins for devices priced above Rs 100,000 be capped at 50 per cent. For those above Rs 1,000 but below Rs 100,000, a cap of 66 per cent; for devices below Rs 1,000, a margin up to 75 per cent. 

They contend this will help reduce India’s dependence on import of medical devices, presently 70 per cent. 

While there is a consensus among manufacturers on this, they are debating