Supreme Court orders free COVID-19 related testing in government and private labs

In a big development on Wednesday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat ruled in an interim order that testing relating to COVID-19 wher in approved government or private labs shall be free of cost. This ruling came on a writ petition filed by lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi. Moreover, bench also directed that COVID-19 related tests should be carried out only in NABL accredited laboratories or any ncies approved by WHO or ICMR. Meanwhile, Centre has been given two week's time to file an affidavit in reply. 

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SC finds prima facie substance in petitioner's argument

Sudhi's petition sought a direction to Centre for ensuring free of cost testing facility of COVID-19. He also challenged ICMR advisory dated March 17, 2020, which capped price of screening and confirmation test at Rs.4,500. SC ted that number of patients and death toll in India was rising despite measures taken by Centre and state governments.

According to bench, re was a prima facie substance in petitioner's argument that a large part of population would t be able to afford COVID-19 test in a private lab. order added that private labs had a crucial role to play by extending philanthropic services at such a juncture. Furrmore, apex court clarified that it would consider wher private labs are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred at a later st. 

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ICMR guidelines

On March 21, Centre tified guidelines laid down by ICMR for COVID-19 testing in private laboratories in country. It has been stressed that private labs can charge only Rs.1,500 for screening of suspect cases and Rs.3000 for confirmation test. At same time, ICMR encourd private labs to go for free or subsidized testing in current hour of crisis. Currently, re are 5,274 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 411 people have recovered while 149 individuals have lost ir lives. 

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