SC Modifies Free COVID-19 Tests Order, Says It’s Only For The Poor

SC Modifies Free COVID-19 Tests Order, Says It’s Only For The Poor

In an order dated 13 April, the Supreme Court modified its earlier direction to private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests for free and clarified that it is only applicable for those who are eligible under Ayushman Bharat (as already implemented by the government), and others belonging to any economically weaker sections of the society that the centre finds eligible.

The private labs, on the other hand, can continue to charge the payment from people who were able to afford the price cap fixed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at Rs 4500. Further, the court ordered the government to issue necessary guidelines for reimbursing the costs incurred by the private labs and to implement the necessary mechanism to defray their expenses.