All Covid tests to be free, says SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that all tests relating to Covid 19, be it by government labs or by private ones, would be free.

Noting the coronavirus inflicted cases are increasing by day and the tests relating to it may not be within the means of a large section of country’s population, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that all the tests relating to Covid-19 be by government labs or private would be free.

Directing that all the tests relating to Covid-19 “whether in approved government laboratories or approved private laboratories shall be free of cost”, a bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat asked the Centre to issue necessary instruction to this effect.

The court also made it clear that the tests “must be carried out in NABL accredited labs or any agencies approved by WHO or ICMR.”

Having ordered the free tests, the court, however, said that the question as to whether the private laboratories carrying free of cost Covid-19 tests are entitled for any reimbursement of expenses incurred shall be considered later on.

“We find prima facie substance …. that at this time of national calamity permitting private Labs to charge `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 `4500,” the court said in its order directing free testing of corona cases.

Describing doctors engaged in fight against corona as “warriors” and must be “protected”, the Supreme Court said that government should invite suggestions from people on the way forward in the fight against the deadly virus including lockdown, regulatory mechanism for people working from home and medical treatment.