PGI Chandigarh slashes prices of Ortho Implants, Surgeries

Chandigarh: Ortho Implants used in surgeries like total knee and hip replacements have finally found cost balances with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) fixing their prices. The new rates will be applicable from June 10.This exercise is similar to the one conducted by the PGIMER last year to provide cheaper stents to patients.

As against the Rs. 1,00,000 lakh charged earlier, for a total knee replacement, the present charges have been reduced to Rs. 65,000. "Similarly, base total hip replacement-cemented, will cost Rs 40,000 instead of Rs 70,000 and an un cemented will be at Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 90,000," an official revealed. Another move to check costs of orth implants has come in the form of the formation of a committee to cap their costs. This would bring an end to doctors sending patients to private vendors for purchase of implants at escalated prices.

The cheaper implants are now to be outsourced through the Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets.

AMRIT Outlets provide medical equipment put to use in elective surgeries like knee and hip replacement. To bring down costs of stents, last year, private vendors who had independently provided stents for angioplasty and stenting were asked to supply their material through AMRIT pharmacy stores located at PGIMER. Thus making Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets, the sole authority for selling stents at the Institute.

The Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER ), came into existence with the first one opened at Chandigarh in April 2016. Today, there are several of these at the institute and serve a large number of patients who come in from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of North India, by providing branded medicines, at discounts ranging from 30 per cent to 60 per cent, reports TNIE.