Indigenous DES Yet To Consolidate

Even after 50,000 angioplasts being conducted every year in India, the country's indigenous drug eluting stents (DES) industry is still struggling to consolidate its position in the market. This is mainly due to lack of adequate support from established cardiologists, according to a top official of a major indigenous DES manufacturer. "Though majority of the cardiologists are preferring indigenously built DES, however, some of the established cardiologists have not supported it the way they have supported the imported ones," Sahajanand Medical Technologies Private Limited (SMT) CEO Manish Doshi told PTI here. Based in Gujarat, the company is one of the largest DES manufacturers in the world, with a customer base spread over 28 countries. The DES is inserted inside the body to clear the blockages in heart for preventing cardiac arrest. "This has prevented the market from growing at a higher rate. World over the trend is promoted by the doctors and governments of respective countries. South Korea and China are some prime examples," Doshi said. He said that this was primarily due to two reasons. "First, we have a habit of looking at the West for everything and undervalue anything Indian. Secondly, the Indian DES market is very young. Not many have the trial data of Indian Companies," he said. (Ref : The Economic Times dated December 12, 2005)