The number of angioplasties and stents are mounting in Pakistan every year, but the cost is massive for everyone to afford. Confer to that, health institutions are hoping to lower the cost to make the procedure more affordable.
The head of the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), retired Maj Gen Dr Azhar Mahmood Kayani disclosed that the production of local stunts is expected to start by the end of this year to endow populace with the amenities.
He further quoted that “We get a top quality stent for Rs100,000, and after including balloons, medicines and fees each procedure costs Rs200,000, compared to Rs250,000 in private hospitals. If local production starts we will buy stents for around Rs40,000.”
“The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) have been working on manufacturing angioplasty stent. Although the stent have been prepared they are in the testing process, and hopefully production will be started by the end of the year. The stents have been tested in a Polish lab.”
Keeping in view, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram reveal that UHS has also been working on manufacturing stents.
“We have not only manufactured these stent but have also experimented by placing them in animals, as they cannot be placed in human beings without a detailed research report. We have also contacted a lab in Germany to test our stents. I believe we will be able to start commercial manufacturing by 2020.”