Stent lobby or commercial interests? Chief Minister's 'angioplasty' remark triggers debate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an ideal setting, a patient arriving in a Kerala hospital with mild chest pain will first go through an examination. Very soon, the patient will have his eyebrows raised upon hearing his doctor recommend angioplasty. It has become normal for doctors to scare patients, highlighting the necessity of putting a stent to clear a blockage in the heart. Lacking knowledge about the procedure, patients often yield to the doctor's advice, incurring costs running into lakhs of rupees. However, a recent remark by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan—stating that angioplasty is sometimes performed on patients who do not actually require it—has sparked a major debate.

Allegations suggest that commercial interests drive this practice, with the 'stent lobby' also playing a role. Ultimately, the patients fall victim to this 'medical business.' There are also accusations that stent manufacturing companies entice doctors with lucrative offers, leading some to implant stents in patients who do not have serious underlying conditions.

It is reported that some private hospitals have even set targets for doctors performing angioplasty, leading to patients undergoing the procedure unnecessarily. Doctors have expressed mixed reactions to the Chief Minister's remarks; Dr G. Rajesh, Head of the Cardiology Department at Kozhikode Medical College, openly stated that the Chief Minister's claim was true, whereas the IMA disagreed.

A report by the Interventional Cardiology Council of Kerala indicates that over 50,000 angioplasty procedures are performed in the state annually. In 2025, a total of 52,621 angioplasties were conducted; of these, only 32,722 were emergency procedures. These figures are based on data from just 88 of the state's approximately 150 cath labs. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College performs up to 350 angioplasties per month, with doctors noting that the majority of these are emergency interventions.

Private hospitals typically charge between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for angioplasty, whereas government hospitals charge Rs 50,000–Rs 60,000 (for those not eligible for treatment concessions).

"Angioplasty is performed at the Medical College only for patients who strictly require the procedure." - Dr Mathew Iype, Head of Cardiology.