logo
  • AYURVEDA

    Medicine
  • DOCTOR

    e-Consult
  • Health Feed
  • AYURVEDA

    Clinics
  • NIROG FOR

    Doctors

CART

Your Cart

×

Empty-cart
Your Cart is Empty

Checkout

LOG IN | SIGN UP

  • All Medicine
  • Brand
    • VASU
    • SKM Siddha & Ayurveda
    • Gufic
    • Solumilks
    • Depson Herbals
    • Shree Vishwavati
    • NirogEssentials
    • Kerala Ayurveda
    • AIMIL
    • Innoveda
    • SN Herbals
    • Vyas
    • Dhootpapeshwar
    • Multani
    • Baidhyanath
    • Charak
    • Himalaya
    • Vaidyaratnam
    • Kottakkal
    • Seva Sadan
    • Sandu Pharmaceuticals
    • Arya Vaidya Pharmacy
    • Kairali
    • Alarsin
    • Organic India
    • Zandu
    • Unjha
    • Nirogam
    • Sri Sri Tattva
    • Nidco
    • Dr Bhargav's Amazing Herbals
    • Arjun Healthcare
    • Eternitive Herbals
    • Nagarjuna
    • Maharshi Ayurveda
    • Dr JRK Siddha
    • SG Phyto Pharma
    • Dabur
    • Bhardwaj Pharmaceutical Works
  • Classical Medicine
    • Bhasma
    • Choorna / Churna
    • Guggulu
    • Kupipakwa Rasayan
    • Loha / Mandoor
    • Parpati
    • Pishti
    • Rasakalpa
    • Suvarna Kalp - Gold (Premium)
    • Suvarna Kalp - Gold (Standard)
    • Avleh / Pak / Khand
    • Satva
    • Suvarna Kalp (Gold)
    • Avaleha / Khand / Pak
    • Ghrita
    • Oil / Tail
    • Kshara
    • Arishta / Arishtam
    • Asava / Asavam
    • Avleh / Khand / Pak
    • Bhasma / Pishti
    • Ark
    • Avaleha / Khand
    • Asava / Arishta
    • Gulika / Tablet / Vati
    • Proprietory
    • Kashayam / Kwatha
    • Kashayam Tablet
    • Gel Capsules
    • Lehyam / Rasayana
    • Taila
    • Capsule
    • Choorna / Churna Tablet
    • Ghrita Ointment
    • Kashayam Choornam
    • Khand / Pak
    • Granules
    • Aristha
    • Kadha/Kwatha
  • Patented Medicine
    • Ointment
    • Syrup
    • Capsule
    • Cream / Ointment
    • Gel
    • Nasal Drop
    • Oil
    • Tooth paste
    • Tooth powder
    • Churna / Powder
    • Cream
    • Lozenges
    • Toffees
    • Cleanser
    • Cosmetic
    • Face Pack
    • Shampoo
    • Soap
    • Balm
    • Eye Drop
    • Honey
    • Spray
    • Heena
    • Granules
    • Lehyam / Rasayana
    • Juice
    • Jaggery
    • Saffron
    • Tablet
    • Gulkand
    • Drops
    • Herbal Tea
    • Kanji
    • Lapam
    • Lotion
    • Gold
    • Potali
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Mask
    • Capsules
    • Thermometer
    • Special Product
  • Featured Products
    • Diabe 250
    • Glycogeme
    • Hyna Cream
Menu
  • Brand
    • VASU
    • SKM Siddha & Ayurveda
    • Gufic
    • Solumilks
    • Depson Herbals
    • Shree Vishwavati
    • NirogEssentials
    • Kerala Ayurveda
    • AIMIL
    • Innoveda
    • SN Herbals
    • Vyas
    • Dhootpapeshwar
    • Multani
    • Baidhyanath
    • Charak
    • Himalaya
    • Vaidyaratnam
    • Kottakkal
    • Seva Sadan
    • Sandu Pharmaceuticals
    • Arya Vaidya Pharmacy
    • Kairali
    • Alarsin
    • Organic India
    • Zandu
    • Unjha
    • Nirogam
    • Sri Sri Tattva
    • Nidco
    • Dr Bhargav's Amazing Herbals
    • Arjun Healthcare
    • Eternitive Herbals
    • Nagarjuna
    • Maharshi Ayurveda
    • Dr JRK Siddha
    • SG Phyto Pharma
    • Dabur
    • Bhardwaj Pharmaceutical Works
  • Classical Medicine
    • Bhasma
    • Choorna / Churna
    • Guggulu
    • Kupipakwa Rasayan
    • Loha / Mandoor
    • Parpati
    • Pishti
    • Rasakalpa
    • Suvarna Kalp - Gold (Premium)
    • Suvarna Kalp - Gold (Standard)
    • Avleh / Pak / Khand
    • Satva
    • Suvarna Kalp (Gold)
    • Avaleha / Khand / Pak
    • Ghrita
    • Oil / Tail
    • Kshara
    • Arishta / Arishtam
    • Asava / Asavam
    • Avleh / Khand / Pak
    • Bhasma / Pishti
    • Ark
    • Avaleha / Khand
    • Asava / Arishta
    • Gulika / Tablet / Vati
    • Proprietory
    • Kashayam / Kwatha
    • Kashayam Tablet
    • Gel Capsules
    • Lehyam / Rasayana
    • Taila
    • Capsule
    • Choorna / Churna Tablet
    • Ghrita Ointment
    • Kashayam Choornam
    • Khand / Pak
    • Granules
    • Aristha
    • Kadha/Kwatha
  • Patented Medicine
    • Ointment
    • Syrup
    • Capsule
    • Cream / Ointment
    • Gel
    • Nasal Drop
    • Oil
    • Tooth paste
    • Tooth powder
    • Churna / Powder
    • Cream
    • Lozenges
    • Toffees
    • Cleanser
    • Cosmetic
    • Face Pack
    • Shampoo
    • Soap
    • Balm
    • Eye Drop
    • Honey
    • Spray
    • Heena
    • Granules
    • Lehyam / Rasayana
    • Juice
    • Jaggery
    • Saffron
    • Tablet
    • Gulkand
    • Drops
    • Herbal Tea
    • Kanji
    • Lapam
    • Lotion
    • Gold
    • Potali
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Mask
    • Capsules
    • Thermometer
    • Special Product
   हिंदी ब्लॉग
  • All
    • Nirog Health Tips
    • Herbs
    • Interviews
    • Events and News
    • CoronaVirus Updates
    • Vaidya Corner
    • Diseases
    • Yoga and Fitness
    • Research
  • Ayurveda News
  • Health News
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Video Gallery
  • Photo Gallery
blog head ads
Home Blogs Health News Covid-19 test free for poor, not for those who can pay: SC

Covid-19 test free for poor, not for those who can pay: SC

By NS Desk| Health News| posted on :   13-Apr-2020

  • Share

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The Supreme Court, modifying its order on free coronavirus test at private labs, on Monday said that free testing for Covid-19 shall be available to persons eligible under Ayushman Bharat scheme as already implemented by Centre, and any other category of economically weaker sections of the society as notified by the government for free testing.

The apex court insisted that it never intended to make testing free for those who can afford it and asked the government to issue rules to reimburse private labs for free tests.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Ravindra Bhat said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare may consider as to whether any other categories of the weaker sections of the society e.g. workers belonging to low income groups in the informal sectors, beneficiaries of Direct Benefit Transfer, etc. apart from those covered under Ayushman Bharat are also eligible for the benefit of free testing and issue appropriate guidelines in the above regard also within a period of one week.

"We further clarify that the order never intended to make testing free for those who can afford the payment of testing fee fixed by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for Covid-19," said the bench.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, contended that under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, about 10.7 crore poor and vulnerable families, which means approximately 50 crore beneficiaries, are covered under the scheme and they can avail the benefit of free of cost Covid-19 test even in the private labs. He submitted that beneficiaries under the scheme would get a cashless Covid-19 test in private labs.

The top court noted that the April 8 order intended to make testing in private labs of Covid-19 free for economically weaker sections of the society who were unable to afford the payment of testing fee as fixed by ICMR -- Rs 1,500 for screening and Rs 3,000 for confirmative tests.

"Ministry of Health and Family Welfare may issue necessary guidelines for reimbursement of cost of free testing of Covid-19 undertaken by private labs and necessary mechanism to defray expenses and reimbursement to the private labs," said the court.

The court said the private labs can continue to charge the payment for testing of Covid-19 from persons who are able to pay the testing fee as fixed by ICMR.

The ICMR on Monday had urged the court to withdraw its free coronavirus test order, contending that the interim order passed on April 8, may work to the detriment of the cause the country is fighting.

The ICMR said the decision to involve private labs in the process of testing was taken after extensive deliberation with the national task force on all aspects. "The Central government, after elaborate and extensive discussions and deliberation with subject experts from various fields, took an administrative decision to involve private labs while imposing price cap for them to ensure that they do not charge more and cannot exploit the citizens," it said in its affidavit.

"It is, therefore, submitted that final relief is incapable of being granted and only on this ground the ad-interim order deserves not to be continued," the ICMR added, seeking dismissal of the petition seeking free tests for all citizens.

The apex body for the formulation and promotion of biomedical research insisted, while keeping factor of the resources not being unlimited as a pre-dominant factor, the government also considered the hardship which can be faced by the poor section of the country in the process of testing. ICMR informed the top court that unlike other routine tests being conducted in labs at the will and wish of the citizens, these tests would be conducted only after a qualified physician certifies need for such a test, and this protocol applies to both government and private labs.

The ICMR informed the court that some of the components which are essential parts of the kits like primer probes, master mix are patent protected products, and therefore, cannot be manufactured indigenously without importing these components. It contended the resources cannot be unlimited and the government is bound to prioritise the resources in public interest.

"In view of this position, our country will have to depend upon the import of all these components. This is the problem faced by most of the countries in the world and these patent components are manufactured by few countries only which are out of India", said ICMR.

Advocate Shashank Deo Sudhi had filed a plea in the court contending there are large sections of society who at present are unable to afford the payment of Rs of 4,500 for testing. He submitted that the government has to take responsibility for getting every person tested. In the event that one person in a family tests positive, the entire family requires testing. He submitted that government hospitals are overcrowded; hence, such persons may be permitted testing of Covid-19 in private labs free of cost.

--IANS

ss/vd

NS Desk

Are you an Ayurveda doctor? Download our App from Google PlayStore now!

Download NirogStreet App for Ayurveda Doctors. Discuss cases with other doctors, share insights and experiences, read research papers and case studies. Get Free Consultation 9625991603 | 9625991607 | 8595299366

Read the Next

view all

Italy hits 1 mn dose vaccination mark

Rome, Jan 16 (IANS) Italy passed a positive milestone, with 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine having been administered just 19 days after the country launched its nationwide...

Turkish president reports no side effects after Covid-19 vaccine

Istanbul, Jan 16 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he did not see any side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine that he received the previous day.Speaking to the r...

Russia reports 24,715 new Covid-19 cases

Moscow, Jan 16 (IANS) Russia recorded 24,715 more Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, roughly the same as in the previous day, the country's Covid-19 response center said.T...

Italy reopens museums, extends nationwide anti-virus curfew

Rome, Jan 16 (IANS) Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has signed a new decree with fresh Covid-19 containment measures, the prime minister's office said in a statement.Acc...

Subscribe to our Newsletters
ads

Related Stories

Naik stable after 2 orthopaedic surgeries: Goa CM

Naik's condition stable, under observation: Goa CM

Union Minister Naik injured, wife, aide dead in K'taka road crash

81Per Cent More Motivated To Make A Health Goal in 2021

UP on high alert over bird flu scare

Health Talks

मानसिक तनाव से कैसे बचें?

रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता बढ़ाने के लिए बच्चों को स्वर्णप्राशन देना जरूरी

पिज्जा, पास्ता खाकर भी आयुर्वेद की मदद से अपने आप को ऐसे रखे स्वस्थ्य !

ब्लड में बढ़ते क्रिएटिनिन की रोकथाम के लिए आयुर्वेदिक उपाय

मोटापा कम करने का दिमागी खेल

×
  • Login
  • Guest Signup
Login with OTP
Forgot Password ?

Signup as a Doctor / Student?

please accept the terms & conditions

Next Are you a Doctor ?

Enter OTP

Resend OTP
previous-iconBack

Reset Password

Verify your number

Next

Enter OTP

Resend OTP
previous-iconBack

NirogStreet is a unique concept in the Ayurveda healthcare ecosystem. It was founded in June 2016. We are an impact organization striving to make Ayurveda the first call of treatment for people. Our technology-driven platform provides access to authentic Ayurveda doctors on a global scale.

Explore
  • About Us
  • Buy Medicine
  • Book a Doctor
  • Blogs
  • Contact Us
  • Ask a Question
  • For Doctors
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cancellation Policy
Download app
Connect with us

Copyright © 2020 NirogStreet All Rights Reserved