Medical devices that are declared as "drugs", such as stents, valves, orthopedic implants, syringes and tools for operations, will now have to declare their retail maximum price (MRP) and other details including that of the manufacturer and the importer.
These rules will come into effect from 1 January. Previously, all medical devices were covered by the Standards of Legal Goods of Metrology (Packaged). But in 1995, some of them were declared as drugs and therefore they failed to mention MRP. A subcommittee to propose changes to the Rules had recommended that they be returned in the framework of MRP regime.
They also need to mention the consumer helpline number to file any complaints. The new rules, which go into effect as of January 1, also require e-commerce firms to mention the MRP products, whose aim is to put an end to any ambiguity as to whether online companies are giving huge discounts claiming In your ads.
"Even after the limitation of prices of medical devices many companies were not showing (rates) .The new rules will be of great help to consumers in general and in particular to the poor. The Legal Metrology Standards, "said Minister of Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan.
An official with the ministry of consumer affairs said that the implementation of the Rules of Legal Metrology will provide another layer to protect the rights of consumers. Non-implementation of the MRP led to a crisis in which consumers were arbitrarily charged by hospitals for medical devices and the health ministry had to cover stent prices.
