Plea in SC seeks reduction in non COVID-19 medical treatment

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a fee reduction in all non-COVID medical treatments during the lockdown.

New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to all the governments and other concerned authorities to take immediate steps to reduce Non-COVID-19 related treatment fees during the lockdown.

The plea filed by Sourjya Das, also seeks an interim stay on all the pending fees till the cost is reduced.

"Halt in businesses and means of income following the COVID-19 outbreak was unforeseen and unexpected by the public and as a result, many members of the public are facing a financial crisis, having not availed any benefit scheme or health insurance that could safeguard the financial positions of them and their families," reasoned the PIL.

Citing the grounds further, the petitioner contended that financial crisis due to the lockdown is detrimental to the livelihood of people and their families who are unemployed, self-employed, pensioners or private professionals and have observed a significant fall in their incomes.

The private health care sector is taking advantage of the fact that the government issued no advisory on the cost reduction, not taking into consideration the circumstances of the citizens, added the petitioner.

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