The government has fixed a price range for knee implants, almost 70% lower than current cost surgery. The price will now range from Rs 54,000 to Rs 1.14 lakh. “Government will not remain a mute spectator and will not allow this illegal and unethical profiteering,” Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar said.
In a similar move, the government had in February, slashed the maximum price of life-saving heart stents implants by up to 85 per cent by capping them at Rs 7,260 for bare metal ones and Rs 29,600 for drug eluting variety.
According to the government, there are around 1.5 crore to 2 crore patients who require knee implants surgery. Every year 1.2 lakh to 1.5 lakh knee surgeries takes place in India. It is estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that by 2020, osteoarthritis is going to be the fourth largest cause of immobility in globally, Kumar informed.
Knee osteoarthritis prevalence has dramatically increased in recent decades. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints. OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe. In normal joints, a firm, rubbery material called cartilage covers the end of each bone.
