Telangana asks pvt hospitals to follow pricing policy on stents

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is taking steps to see that stents are available to heart patients on time and that hospitals do not indulge in any malpractices in the matter, state Health Minister C Laxma Reddy said here today. Responding to concerns expressed by members during Question Hour in Legislative Assembly over availability of quality stents to patients, Reddy said the national pharmaceutical pricing authority determined the prices for stents.

The state government gave orders to the state-run as well as private hospitals to follow the pricing policy accordingly, he said. The government also spoke to some firms, who sought to withdraw from market following the government's tough stance, to see that stents are available to patients, the minister said.

To another query, he said the government has initiated steps to take care of pregnant women by providing them nutritious food, health check ups, deliveries in government hospitals among others. After delivery, a kit named 'KCR Kit', is planned to be distributed to women. The kit would contain items like baby mattress, mosquito net, baby towels, shampoo, baby soaps, besides items useful to mother, including a soap and two sarees, he added.