In 2014, when the present ruling party came to the power at the Centre it had promised to reduce the price of stents used in heart operations. Within a year, a law was brought and the prices were drastically slashed of the three common types of stents . Since then stents have been made available at affordable prices in private hospitals all over the country. It was mandated that the hospitals display the types and prices of stents and explain to the patients the differences and ask their choice. There was opposition from the hospitals’ managements but the government overruled and had its way. It is time now that the government step in and cap the prices of various tests and scans that are carried out in hospitals, diagnostic and pathology laboratories and scan centres. Once the costs are within the reach of the people then they would not hesitate to go for annual check-ups and carry out tests and scans when the need arises. Hope that the Centre has again the heart to cap the prices in the larger interest and welfare of the people.
