Prevent over-charging for COVID19 tests: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested that the Centre should create a mechanism wherein private laboratories conducting COVID-19 tests do not charge exorbitant fees from public and government should reimburse the fees charged by labs.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat wastold by the Centre that earlier 15,000 tests were conducted per day by 118 labsand later to enhance the capacity, 47 private labs were allowed to conduct theCOVID-19 tests.

   

The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate ShashankDeo Sudhi seeking a direction to the Centre and authorities to provide free ofcost testing facility for COVID-19 to all citizens in the country.

Sudhi told the bench that there should be free testing ofCOVID-19 by labs in the country as it is expensive.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre,said it is a developing situation and government at this juncture does not knowhow many laboratories will be needed and how long the ongoing lockdown willcontinue.

To this, the bench suggested that the Centre should ensurethat private laboratories do not charge high amount and government shouldcreate a mechanism for reimbursement of the fees charges for the tests.

Mehta said he would like to take instructions on this frontafter which the bench said it would pass orders in the matter.

On April 3, the top court had sought response from theCentre and other authorities on the plea filed by Sudhi.

The petitioner has also sought a direction to theauthorities for ramping up the testing facilities for COVID-19 at the earliest”given the escalating mortality and morbidity rate across thecountry”.

The petition has questioned the March 17 advisory of the IndianCouncil of Medical Research (ICMR) which capped Rs 4,500 for testing ofCOVID-19 in private hospitals or labs, including screening and confirmatorytests.

“It is extremely difficult for the common citizen toget himself/herself tested in the government hospital /labs and being noalternative in the sight, the people are constrained to pay the capped amountto the private hospital/labs for protecting their lives,” it said.

The plea said the impending danger of coronavirus isextremely serious, given the deprived population of the country, and testing isthe only way to contain the pandemic. It alleged that authorities are”completely insensitive and indifferent” to the plight of commoncitizens who are already financially burdened on account of complete lockdownacross the country.

“Further, the capping of the prices of the testingfacility of COVID-19 in private hospitals/labs strikes at the Article 14 of theConstitution of India as being arbitrary and unreasonable,” it said andurged that the March 17 advisory be declared arbitrary.

It also sought a direction for ensuring that all testsrelating to COVID-19 are conducted under the National Accreditation Board forTesting and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) or ICMR accredited pathologicallabs.

It said ICMR should be directed to hold regular newsbriefings through national TV channels about the current situation oncoronavirus and precautions to be taken by the citizens.

The plea also said that authorities must ensure adequatenumbers of testing kits and centers for COVID-19 across the country.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

12 − 4 =