Supreme Court asked the private laboratories to do the testing without taking fees

The Supreme Court on Wednesday has directed the government to issue an appropriate order for the free of cost testing for the coronavirus. They even asked the private hospitals and laboratories and said that the current charges-though capped at Rs 4,500- will be beyond the reach of poor. The court also said that it will be examined later whether the reimbursement of the private entities should be entitled or not. 

The court also said that private hospitals are also playing an important role in containing the scale of the pandemic by extending the services in the hour of national crisis. They believed that no person should be deprived to undergo the Covid-19 test due to the non-payment of the capped amount of Rs 4500. 

The bench of justice says that the tests relating to Covid-19 must be carried out in NABL- accredited labs or any agencies approved by ICMR. The court also passed a kind of directions to the Centre and states to make sure of the safety and security of the doctors and medical staff. As they are the warriors against coronavirus also they are the first line of defense to combat the pandemic. 

The court showed their concern over the incidents of attack and harassment of the medical staff who are involved in treating the pandemic affected people. They also ensure the availability of the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as medical masks, gloves, etc. 

The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has said that 15000 tests are being done on daily basis in over 100 laboratories, and also private laboratories have been asked to do the testing in view of the spread of the virus in the country. He assured that the government and the police are duly committed to protecting the interest of doctors. All the necessary actions will be taken to protect them. He said that all the necessary equipment will be provided to the doctors and all the people who are fighting with the pandemic. 

Also See: Manpreet Badal keeps his words ; 50 PPE kits provided in just 48 Hrs.