Published: 12:13 AM, 12 July 2026
Lower cost of cardiac treatment brings relief to people
The government's decision to reduce the prices of various medical devices used in cardiac treatment has brought relief to lower-middle-income and middle-income families.
Patients and their relatives welcomed the timely initiative, urging Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to reduce the cost of all types of healthcare services.
A visit to Pediatric Cardiac Ward-2 of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital (NICVD) in the capital found eight-month-old Ayman Rahman lying beside his mother.
Speaking to BSS, his mother, Tahmina, said they learned when Ayman was just two months old that he had a hole in his heart.
He has been on medication ever since, and doctors have advised that he will need surgery when he is between one and one-and-a-half years old.
Expressing gratitude to the government for lowering the prices of cardiac devices, Tahmina said, "This decision is a great blessing for ordinary families like ours. We were deeply worried about the huge cost of our son's surgery, but the reduced device prices have eased that burden to some extent. I hope the government continues to stand by ordinary people and also works to reduce the cost of all medical treatments."
Meanwhile, Robiul Islam, who came from Jaldhaka in Nilphamari for heart treatment at NICVD, told BSS, "I came to Dhaka after struggling to arrange money for my treatment. Many people like me even sell their land to pay for heart care. This price reduction will greatly benefit poor patients. I also hope the government ensures that medicines remain affordable."
At the gate of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, retired government employee Abdur Rahman told BSS, "I heard the government has reduced the prices of cardiac treatment devices as well as dialysis services. This is wonderful news for senior citizens like us. The government's decision will greatly benefit ordinary people."
Recently, the government reduced the prices of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.
Under a notification issued by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) in April, the prices of these devices were reduced by amounts ranging from Tk 5,000 to as much as Tk 200,000.
Cardiologists say pacemakers, ICDs, and CRT devices are essential tools in treating heart disease.
A pacemaker helps maintain a normal heartbeat when the heart beats too slowly or irregularly.
An ICD detects dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities and, when necessary, delivers an electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm.
CRT improves the heart's pumping efficiency in patients with heart failure by correcting the lack of synchronization between different parts of the heart.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, around 70 percent of deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Heart disease alone accounts for about 25 percent of all deaths.
Discussions with physicians and other stakeholders indicate that Bangladesh's annual market for coronary stents is worth approximately Tk 3 billion. Around 35,000 stents are implanted each year, including more than 9,000 at the NICVD alone.
DGDA data show that 27 private companies import 44 different types of stents and other cardiac devices, including pacemakers, balloon guidewires, catheters, heart valves, and oxygenators, from various countries.
According to the DGDA notification, the price of the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (CDVRA 6000 Neutrino VR) has been reduced from Tk 700,000 to Tk 500,000, a decrease of 28.57 percent.
The price of the ICD (CDVRA 500Q Gallant VR) has been cut from Tk 650,000 to Tk 500,000, while the ICD (CDDRA 500Q Gallant DR) has been reduced from Tk 900,000 to Tk 800,000.
The prices of the ICDs (CDHFA 600Q Neutrino HF) and (CDHFA 500Q Gallant HF) have each been reduced from Tk 1.2 million to Tk 1 million.
The price of the Endurity Core DDDR Pacemaker (Dual Chamber) has been reduced from Tk 230,000 to Tk 180,000.
The Endurity MRI DDDR Pacemaker now costs Tk 250,000 instead of Tk 280,000, while the Assurity MRI DR DDDR Pacemaker has been reduced from Tk 335,000 to Tk 300,000. The Endurity Core VVIR Pacemaker (Single Chamber) has also been reduced from Tk 145,000 to Tk 140,000.
However, the price of the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) device has increased slightly from Tk 549,000 to Tk 550,000.
Under the ministry's directive, every medical device package must display the maximum retail price (MRP), country of origin, manufacturing date, expiry date, and DAR registration number. Importers are also required to obtain approval from the DGDA and clearance from the relevant authorities before importing and marketing medical devices.
Former NICVD Director Prof Dr Afzalur Rahman told BSS, "Following the regulation of coronary stent prices, the prices of pacemakers and other cardiac treatment devices have also been reduced. As a result, these life-saving devices have become comparatively more affordable for ordinary people."
