ACC probes stent overcharging at NICVD

For heart patients undergoing critical treatment, the cost of a coronary stent can add significantly to an already heavy medical bill. Allegations that some patients at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) were being charged more than the officially fixed prices have now prompted an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

An ACC enforcement team conducted an operation at the Dhaka hospital on Sunday to investigate allegations that coronary stents were being sold above the rates fixed by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), with patients allegedly being charged additional amounts.

Md Tanzir Ahmed, assistant director of the ACC’s Public Relations Division, confirmed the operation on Sunday.

The Commission had received complaints of irregularities and harassment in service delivery, particularly allegations that stents were being sold at prices higher than the new DGDA-fixed rates.

Acting on the complaints, the ACC team from its Dhaka headquarters collected hospital records and transaction details on a random basis from patients who had recently undergone stent implantation. The team checked the prices of the stents supplied and the amounts collected from patients against the newly fixed rates.

The officials also spoke to hospitalised patients who had received stents to find out whether they had faced overcharging, irregularities or harassment during treatment.

ACC officials said the documents and information collected during the operation would be scrutinised to determine whether the allegations were substantiated and whether any violation of the prescribed prices or other irregularities had occurred.