Indian cardiologists push for policy review on device reuse to cut costs

The Cardiological Society of India, Kerala chapter, has urged health authorities to review a Directorate General of Health Services order that bans the reuse of single-use interventional devices. According to the medical body, permitting regulated reuse of select devices—where scientifically proven safe—could substantially reduce treatment costs for patients requiring complex cardiac procedures.

As India grapples with an expanding burden of cardiac disease, access to advanced interventional therapies remains limited for large segments of the population due to prohibitive costs. Angioplasty and related procedures, essential for treating acute coronary conditions, often remain beyond the financial reach of middle and lower-income patients who lack adequate insurance coverage.

Cardiology experts argue that modern manufacturing standards and sterilization techniques have made the reuse of certain interventional devices safe and effective when implemented under strict regulatory oversight. They contend that a calibrated policy permitting such reuse, rather than an outright ban, could extend the benefits of contemporary cardiac care to a broader section of the Indian population.

The move reflects growing pressure on India's healthcare system to balance patient safety with affordability and accessibility. Health authorities have not yet responded to the cardiologists' request for a formal review of existing regulations.