Supreme Court Orders Private Labs To Make Coronavirus Testing Free Of Cost

India’s population is 1.3 billion and only 1.2 lakh people have been tested for coronavirus – that’s an extremely small number considering the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Even though COVID-19 testing in a government hospital is free, private labs charge Rs 4,500 for the same.

However, the Supreme Court recently ordered private diagnostic labs to conduct coronavirus testing free of cost, reports India Today.

“Private hospitals including laboratories have an important role to play in containing the scale of the pandemic by extending philanthropic services in the hour of national crisis,” the SC said.

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“We find prima facie substance in the submission of the 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 the population of this country and no person be deprived to undergo the COVID-19 test due to non- payment of a capped amount of Rs 4,500,” the SC added.

Whether the private labs will be reimbursed with the free COVID-19 testing expenses later is a question that the Supreme Court will discuss later.

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Supreme Court’s order is a crucial move at this time of crisis. The more people are tested, the easier will it be to curb the spread of the virus.

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