Provide orthopaedic implants at lowest prices, KGMU welfare society tells suppliers

LUCKNOW: Now, the suppliers of orthopaedic implants will have to give in writing that they charge the least from King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

The KGMU’s welfare society entrusted with the task of providing cost-effective drugs and implants to the medical varsity has decided to ask all its suppliers to submit an affidavit stating that the price they are charging from KGMU is lower as compared to their other customers.

The step was taken after several patients lodged complaints with the society that suppliers charged more than the price of the implants available in the market.

As its causes inconvenience for patients and amounts to corruption, the society has decided to ask for an affidavit from all the orthopaedic implants suppliers.

In orthopaedic implants, the knee and hip joints comprise a major share apart from plates used to treat multiple fractures in limbs and wires used in compound fractures.

As majority implants are costly, a price hike of 10% to 15% makes a major difference.

On Wednesday, the society decided to ask for affidavits from its 22 suppliers and if more apply to work with KGMU, they will have to do the same.

The letters will be served in a day and the affidavits will be asked to submit within a week.

This was the second big decision taken by the society to check companies from charging more from patients.

Prior to this the lens suppliers were called and asked to ensure that the lenses prescribed by the doctors in the ophthalmology department are supplied to the

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It is very clear that if you purchase a single item, the company will charge the maximum they can, but if order is placed in bulk, the price can be negotiated.

A SENIOR FACULTY, KGMU

society shops to curb the direct selling of the lenses to patients.

Under the direct selling, patients have to pay more as the welfare society negotiates the price but individual patients or their attendants do not.

“It is very clear that if you purchase a single item, the company will charge the maximum they can, but if order is placed in bulk, the price can be negotiated. The negotiation not only brings down price but ensures the product is genuine,” said a senior faculty.

Once the companies submit the affidavit, they will be bound to provide the implants and drugs at a much lower price to KGMU as it purchases such implants in bulk.

If they violate the terms, action will be initiated against them.