COVID-19: Delhi HC Says Price Of Rapid Test Kit Should Not Be More Than Rs 400

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled that COVID-19 rapid test kits should not be sold at a price more than Rs 400 each, inclusive of GST.

Justice Najmi Waziri observed that “public interest must outweigh private gain” and litigation “between the parties should give way to the larger public good.”

The judge was hearing a plea by Rare Metabolics and Aark, which sought release of 7.24 lakh test kits from Matrix Labs.

Justice Naziri directed Rare Metabolics Life Sciences Pvt Ltd, Aark Pharmaceuticals and Matrix Labs, which had entered into an agreement to import 10 lakh test kits from China and distribute them in India at an ICMR-approved price of Rs 600 each: “For people to be assured that the pandemic is under control and for governments to ensure and for agencies engaged in the frontline battle to safeguard people’s health, more kits/tests should be made available urgently at the lowest cost, for carrying out extensive tests throughout the country.”

Advocate Jayant Mehta, counsel for Rare Metabolics and Aark, said that he won’t pursue the matter any further and give up all further claims if the importer (Matrix Labs) undertakes to sell the product at not more than Rs 400 each.

“Both parties (Rare Metabolics Life Sciences Pvt Ltd and Matrix Labs) agree the principle public interest should be paramount and the tests should be made available to the general public at the lowest cost possible,” the court observed.