Thiruvananthapuram: The CSI’s Kerala Chapter has sought a review of curbs on reprocessing select medical devices, saying this could reduce the cost of advanced angioplasty without compromising patient safety.
Inaugurating the annual conference of the Cardiological Society of India, Kerala Chapter, its president, Dr Asokan P K, said advances in coronary imaging, new-generation stents and precision-guided interventions had expanded treatment options for patients with complex coronary artery disease, according to a press release on Sunday.
Organising chairman Dr Prathap Kumar N said the rising cost of complex angioplasty procedures, particularly those requiring multiple specialised devices, had become a major concern.
He said reimbursement packages under government-funded health insurance schemes often fell short of the actual cost of advanced cardiac interventions.
The one-day conference discussed restrictions imposed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on reprocessing medical devices labelled for single use, he said.
Cardiologists have sought a review to determine whether select catheters, guidewires and other equipment could be safely reprocessed under scientifically validated protocols, the statement said.
Prathap Kumar said making complex cardiac procedures affordable to ordinary patients remained a major challenge amid the growing demand for advanced interventions across the country.
He said allowing the regulated reuse of select interventional devices, wherever scientific evidence established their safety, could help reduce treatment costs and extend modern cardiac care to more people.
However, patient safety must remain paramount, and any proposal for reuse should be backed by scientific evidence, validated sterilisation processes, functional testing and strict regulatory oversight, he added.
A scientific session at the conference examined the evolving roles of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) and drug-eluting stents (DES) in coronary angioplasty.
The conference featured discussions on leadless pacemakers, laser-assisted coronary interventions, invasive coronary function testing, newer cholesterol-lowering therapies, complex valve procedures and advances in heart failure management, the statement added.
