BREAKING : SC Directs Private And Govt Laboratories To Conduct COVID-19 Test Free Of Cost [Read Order]

In an important order, the Supreme Court directed that COVID-19 tests should be done free of cost in both government laboratories and in approved private laboratories. 

The Government of India has been directed to issue necessary directions in that regard.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat passed the following directions :

(i) The tests relating to COVID-19 whether in approved Government Laboratories or approved private Laboratories shall be free of cost. The respondents shall issue necessary direction in this regard immediately.

(ii) Tests relating to COVID-19 must be carried out in NABL accredited Labs or any agencies approved by WHO or ICMR. 

The interim order was passed by the bench in a Public Interest Litigation filed by Shashank Deo Sudhi, who challenged the Government decision to fix the cost of the COVID-19 testing in private labs as Rs 4500.

The petitioner sought a direction for free testing for COVID-19, in both government and private laboratories.

The bench said that it found "prima facie substance" in the submission of petitioner that permitting private Labs to charge Rs.4500 for screening and confirmation test of COVID-19 at this time of national calamity may not be within means of a large part of population of this country

The bench observed that no person should be deprived to undergo the COVID-19 test due to non-payment of capped amount of Rs.4500.

The Court was told that the testing in Government Laboratories were free of cost.

"The private Hospitals including Laboratories have an important role to play in containing the scale of pandemic by extending philanthropic services in the hour of national crisis. We thus are satisfied that the petitioner has made out a case for issuing a direction to the respondents to issue necessary direction to accredited private Labs to conduct free of cost COVID-19 test", the bench said.

It also added that the issue whether private laboratories are entitled to reimbursement from government for the expenses incurred for COVID-19 tests will be considered later.

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