ISLAMABAD: After two days of deliberations, the Drug Regulatory Authority (Drap) has allowed 20 more companies to sell stents, besides registering bio-absorbable stents for the first time.

During a meeting of the Registration Board, the prices of the stents could not be fixed, as, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Drap Dr Mohammad Aslam, there was no provision in the law to fix prices of stents without the approval of the government.

“A comprehensive policy document was being made to address the prices issue,” he told Dawn.

In people with coronary heart disease caused by the buildup of plaque, stents help open arteries, reduce symptoms like chest pain and help avoid heart attack.

Last month, not only a huge amount of unregistered stents worth over Rs250 million were recovered from Mayo Hospital, Lahore but it was also revealed that in some cases patients were told that stents have been fixed but they are never placed in their arteries.

The Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the issue and pushed Drap and other stakeholders to ensure quality stents at affordable rates.

Dr Aslam while talking to Dawn said that during two days meeting of the Registration Board, held on Feb 6 and 7, a consultative meeting was also held with representatives of federal, provincial governments, health commission, cardiologist associations and public sector institutions.

“The meeting reviewed 37 applications for the registration of stents and gave approval to 20 applications and the rest of the applicants were advised to complete the documentation and then apply. Moreover, new companies can also apply for the stents,” he said.

He said that there were 55 companies selling stents in the market and after the registration of 20 more the total number has reached to 75.—A Reporter