Stent Price in India 2026: What the Government Price Cap Means for You
"How much will the stent cost?" is one of the first things a family asks before a heart procedure. In India, the answer is set by law. This guide explains the price limit in simple words, what it covers, what it does not cover, and how hospitals can choose between stents when the price is the same.
Quick answer: In India, the government sets the highest price a heart stent can be sold for. From 1 April 2026, a drug-eluting stent can cost at most Rs 39,186.03 and a bare metal stent Rs 10,762.15, plus GST. This limit covers only the stent, not the full angioplasty bill, so always ask the hospital for an itemised bill.
What Is a Heart Stent?
A stent is a tiny metal mesh tube. Doctors place it inside a narrow or blocked heart artery to hold it open, so blood can flow again. This is done during a procedure called angioplasty.
There are two main kinds:
- Bare metal stent (BMS): a plain metal tube.
- Drug-eluting stent (DES): a metal tube coated with a medicine. The medicine slowly comes out and helps stop the artery from getting narrow again. Most stents used in India today are drug-eluting stents.
The Stent Price Limit in India (2026)
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is the government body that sets the highest price a stent can be sold for. This is called the ceiling price. The latest prices started on 1 April 2026:
| Type of stent | Highest price allowed (per stent) |
|---|---|
| Drug-eluting stent (DES), including dissolvable (bioresorbable) ones | Rs 39,186.03 + GST |
| Bare metal stent (BMS) | Rs 10,762.15 + GST |
These prices do not include GST. GST can be added only if it has really been paid to the government. The new prices came from NPPA order S.O. 1587(E), which raised the old limits a little, in line with yearly inflation.
Why Is There a Price Limit?
Before 2017, stent prices were very high. The government said the average drug-eluting stent cost about Rs 1.21 lakh, and an NPPA survey found some patients paid nearly Rs 2 lakh for one. In February 2017, the NPPA capped the price of a drug-eluting stent at Rs 29,600 and a bare metal stent at Rs 7,260. Since then, the limit has been raised a little each year with inflation, which is how it reached today's numbers.
The price cap is on the stent only. It is not a cap on the full cost of the heart procedure.
What the Price Limit Does Not Cover
The stent is only one part of the hospital bill. An angioplasty bill can also include:
- The cath lab (the special room where the procedure is done)
- The doctor's fees
- Other tools such as guidewires, balloons and catheters
- Tests, medicines and the hospital stay
So two hospitals can use stents at the same price and still send very different bills. Always ask for a full cost estimate before the procedure.
How to Check You Paid the Right Price
- Ask for an itemised bill. It should show the stent's cost, its brand name and who made it.
- Compare the stent cost with the price limit. It should not be more than the ceiling price plus GST.
- Use the Pharma Sahi Daam app. This free government app lets you check price limits.
- Complain if you were overcharged. You can complain to your State Drugs Control office.
For Hospitals: How to Choose a Stent When the Price Is the Same
Because the top price is fixed, hospitals and cath labs choose stents on other things. For both small cath labs and large hospitals, these matter most:
- Approval: the stent should have CDSCO approval to be sold in India.
- The medicine on it: common choices include everolimus and sirolimus. Both help stop the artery from narrowing again.
- How thin the metal is: thinner struts (the metal wires) can make a stent easier to move through the artery.
- How well it bends: heart arteries can be very curved. A flexible stent is easier to place in curved arteries.
- How firmly it holds on the balloon: the stent should not slip off before it reaches the right place.
- Supply and support: the sizes you need should always be in stock, with quick delivery and help from the maker.
Pulse Coronary Stents at a Glance
Pulse makes two drug-eluting coronary stents. Both carry CDSCO clearance and CE marking, as stated on their product pages.
| Feature | Evera | Sirova |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Everolimus | Sirolimus |
| Strut width | 65 µm | 65 µm |
| Connector width | 50 µm | 50 µm |
| Connectors | Mid-to-mid S-link | Mid-to-mid S-link |
| Stand-out feature | High dislodgement force (>5), so it holds firmly on the balloon | Cell design made for very curved arteries |
Pulse also supplies the other tools used in the cath lab, such as GuideX guidewires and the Optima inflation kit.
Key Facts at a Glance
- From 1 April 2026, the NPPA ceiling price is Rs 39,186.03 for a drug-eluting stent and Rs 10,762.15 for a bare metal stent, plus GST.
- The new prices come from NPPA order S.O. 1587(E).
- Stent prices were first capped in February 2017, at Rs 29,600 for a drug-eluting stent and Rs 7,260 for a bare metal stent.
- Before the cap, an NPPA survey found some patients paid nearly Rs 2 lakh for one drug-eluting stent.
- Hospitals must give an itemised bill showing the stent cost, brand and maker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of a stent in India in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the highest price for a drug-eluting stent is Rs 39,186.03 and for a bare metal stent Rs 10,762.15, set by the NPPA. GST is extra.
Can a hospital charge more than the ceiling price for a stent?
The stent itself should not cost more than the ceiling price plus GST. The rest of the angioplasty bill, such as the cath lab, doctor's fees and hospital stay, is not covered by the stent price cap.
How do I check the stent price on my bill?
Ask the hospital for an itemised bill that shows the stent's cost, brand name and maker. Compare it with the NPPA ceiling price, or check it in the government's Pharma Sahi Daam app.
Is a costlier stent better?
Not always. Since prices are capped, the choice depends on the patient's arteries, the stent's design and the doctor's judgement. Your heart doctor decides which stent is right for you.
How can a hospital buy Pulse coronary stents?
Message Pulse on WhatsApp at +91 90711 01108 for details, sizes and a quote for Evera and Sirova stents.
Sources
- NPPA Revises Coronary Stent Prices from April 2026 (Medical Dialogues, 7 April 2026): 2026 ceiling prices and order S.O. 1587(E)
- NPPA Revises Coronary Stent Prices for 2026: What Patients Need to Know (Telangana Today, 8 April 2026): itemised billing, Pharma Sahi Daam app, complaints
- Treated, but Partly (Down To Earth, March 2017): the 2017 price cap and earlier prices
- Pulse Evera and Sirova product pages: stent details
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