New Delhi: An intervention application has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking modification in the apex court's earlier order, on free COVID-19 tests by private hospitals and labs, to include economically weaker sections and citizens coming under BPL category.
The applicant seeks to carry out COVID-19 testing as per the rates stipulated in the ICMR Advisory dated 17th march, but allowing the tests to be free for the EWS categories with immediate reimbursement by the government.
Further modification includes directions to the government to set up testing pathogen labs in all the muncipalities and panchayat areas.
The application has been moved by Dr Kaushal Kant, a senior orthopedic surgeon.
Read: PIL in SC seeks house-to-house mass testing to contain COVID-19
Citing the grounds for modification in the earlier order, Kant contends that if the private labs are emburdened with offering free testing, ignoring the fact that the few pathogen labs which are well equipped at the time of the disaster would be actually disincentivised to continue to function, hence leading to drop in testing rates.
He says that for the EWS or BPL category the private labs can be directed to conduct free testing provided that the government reimburses them. Installation of pathogen labs in all the local municipal and panchayat areas would lead to increase in the free testing of corona, added Kant explaining his prayer.
The Supreme on 8th April had directed the centre to conduct free tests for novel coronavirus in the private labs and to conduct the tests in NABL accredited labs or any agencies approved by the WHO or ICMR.
The bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan had issued notice to the government and had given it two weeks of time to reply. Reimbursement by the government to the private labs was not directed and the court had observed that it will be decided later.
