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    SC seeks Centre's response on PIL seeking to fix maximum rate for RT-PCR test uniformly across India

    Synopsis

    A petition has sought a direction to the governments to fix the maximum rate for the RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test to Rs 400 uniformly across the country, instead of Rs 900 to Rs 2800 as fixed by different state governments, Union Territories and NCT of Delhi.

    SC_PTIPTI
    A petition has alleged that the owners of the private laboratories and hospitals are using the calamity into opportunities for minting crores and crores of rupees.
    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices on a plea to cap the prices of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for Covid-19.

    A petition claimed that though the costs of such tests are not more than Rs 200, labs are charging exorbitant rates. The petition urged the court to fix it at Rs 400.

    The petition has been filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal. A three-judge bench led by CJI SA Bobde issued the notices today to the Union, through the cabinet secretary and health secretary. The notices are returnable in two weeks.

    The petition accused vested interests of profiteering off the misery of people affected by the pandemic by overcharging for the tests while the death rates spiked.

    These tests range in many states and UnionTerritories anywhere between Rs 900 and Rs 2800, said the petition. In some instances, the profit margin was as much as 1,400 % as in the case of Andhra Pradesh and 1,200% in the case of Delhi, it alleged.

    Though these tests are free in government hospitals, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has left it up to state governments to decide the caps in private hospitals and labs. These have been arbitrarily fixed and as a consequence these vary hugely, claimed the petition.

    The expense of the kit was only Rs 200, it claimed, citing figures from a Nagpur-based lab.

    Even if the prices are fixed at Rs 400 per kit, the labs would make a profit of 100%, it claimed.

    Though the rapid antigen tests are cheaper at around Rs 625, these are comparatively less reliable for detecting Covid-19. The RT-PCR tests are more definitive. Hence, the demand for these tests have spiraled.

    The petition argued that in the age of the pandemic-induced depression and loss of jobs, profiteering has kept these tests out of reach for most people.



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