The government has reduced the maximum retail prices (MRP) of 10 widely used coronary stents from global manufacturers Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic, responding to long-standing concerns over inflated medical device costs in Bangladesh.

The revised prices, announced by the Health Ministry on Monday (August 4), follow recommendations from a specialist advisory committee and a review of international and local market trends. The new MRPs include applicable taxes, VAT, fees, and profit margins.

The move aims to align stent prices more closely with regional standards, particularly India, where prices are substantially lower.

Major price reductions are:

Resolute Onyx (Medtronic): Reduced from Tk 140,500 to Tk 90,000

Promus Elite (Boston Scientific): Tk 79,000 to Tk 72,000

Synergy XID (Boston Scientific): Tk 188,000 to Tk 100,000

Xience Prime (Abbott): Tk 66,600 to Tk 50,000

Onyx Trucor (Medtronic): Tk 72,500 to Tk 50,000

Several other models from Boston Scientific and Abbott have also seen significant price reductions.

The Health Ministry has instructed that the new price list be widely displayed, and hospitals are barred from charging more than 5% as service fees for stent procedures.

It also ordered strict monitoring to ensure that cardiovascular and neuro-implant devices are not sold above the approved MRP.