The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has accused US multi-national companies of selling recycled prosthesis in India at cheaper prices.
"It is shocking but true that US companies are selling recycled prosthesis in India," IMA president Ajay Kumar said here.Kumar alleged that US companies are selling knee and hip prosthesis at $4,000 each in India but in US it is sold for $6000. "The secret of cheaper prices in India is that the US companies are selling recycled ones here," Kumar told IANS.
According to him, the cost of manufacturing prosthesis in US is around $5,000. "How can the US companies sell them for less?" he asked.
The US companies use the word "reprocessed" instead of "recycled" to sell them in India. He said after an outcry in the US against selling recycled prosthesis there, the companies turned to India and other Asian countries.
"After protests and lawsuits were filed against the companies they stopped selling them in the US," he said.
Comparing the recycled prosthesis with used toothbrush, Kumar said: "It may or may not be harmful but its life is half of that of a new prosthesis."
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