New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in affidavit on Monday, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition in it they ordered that testing for COVID-19 be made available free in private laboratories.
The ICMR stated that the tests are already free of cost for Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) beneficiaries, even in private laboratories.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta indicated that the apex court may modify its previous order, according to a report in Indian Express.
After the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat, ruled that the testing for COVID-19 in approved government as well as private labs be made free of cost in an interim order last week, private laboratories had called upon the government to “come up with modalities” so that their service “remains sustainable”.
A total of 151 labs across India are currently testing for COVID-19. The charge for the tests has been capped at Rs 4,500.
