In a significant move, the Supreme Court on Wednesday passed an order, directing the Union government to make testing for COVID-19 free in both government and private labs.
In an interim order, an apex court bench, comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Ravindra S. Bhat, said private labs need to be philanthropic during a national crisis.
It said Rs 4,500 being charged by private labs for the tests cannot be afforded by many.
The order comes as a huge relief for people at a time when the number of coronavirus cases are on the increase, necessitating the need to ramp up testing.
The apex court said tests should be conducted only in NABL accredited labs or agencies approved by the World Health Organisation or the ICMR.
"We find prima facie substance in the submission of petitioner that at this time of national calamity, permitting private labs to charge Rs 4,500 for screening and confirmation test of COVID-19 may not be within means of a large part of population of this country and no person be deprived to undergo the COVID-19 test due to nonpayment of capped amount of Rs 4,500," the court stated.
The court passed the order after hearing via video conferencing a petition filed by advocate Shashank Deo Sudhhi. It gave the Centre two weeks to respond to the plea as it passed the interim order.
