New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday said there should be uniformity in Covid-19 testing rates across the country and asked the central government to fix an upper limit for them.
A bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan was hearing a PIL that was registered after the court took suo motu cognisance of media reports on the “deplorable condition” of hospitals and handling of Covid-19 victims’ bodies.
“The Union of India may consider issuing uniform directions to all the States and Union Territories with regard to reasonable rates of various Covid-related facilities/tests for private hospitals/labs, which may be made applicable across the country. If any variations to be made with regard to any particular State/Union Territory, the same shall be specifically provided for in the guidelines,” the court noted.
It asked both central and the state governments to ensure that hospitals follow guidelines on treating Covid-19 patients and handling of bodies.
The court had, on 12 June, pulled up the Delhi government for its handling of the coronavirus crisis and the state-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital over its treatment of bodies.
The bench Friday also asked the Maharashtra government to review its order that bars people from receiving results of Covid-19 tests directly.
It asked states to follow a revised discharge policy issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 8 May as well as the guideline that permits one attendant to stay with a patient in an area earmarked in the hospital.
The apex court had earlier issued notices to the central government and five states – Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu — to take stock of patient management systems and submit a status report on staff in hospitals.
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‘Constitute committees to supervise hospitals’
Taking note of the dissimilarity in Covid-19 testing rates across the country, the bench said, “We have come to know that charges differ from state to state. While somewhere it is Rs 4,500 some charge Rs 2,200. There should be some uniformity.”
The court asked the central government to determine the maximum price, after the latter said that it will issue an advisory to states.
The bench was informed that the government had already reduced the cost of tests in the capital city, a decision that was based on a report by a committee headed by Niti Aayog member V.K. Paul.
The court noted that its main concern was the “faithful and strict implementation” of central government guidelines on patient care, hospital management, testing and infrastructure.
For constant supervision of hospitals in Delhi, the bench directed the constitution of an expert committee of senior doctors from central government hospitals in the capital, doctors at Delhi government-run facilities and from AIIMS, along with an official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
This committee shall visit hospitals treating Covid-19 patients once a week to inspect, supervise and issue necessary directions to them. An inspection report, the court said, must be forwarded to the Delhi government and the union health ministry.
States were also directed to constitute an expert team of doctors and other professionals for inspection, supervision and guidance of Covid-19 facilities. These committees shall start their work within a week, the court said.
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When it comes to economics-finance-business including healthcare, Indian judiciary is farcical.