NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to consider reimbursing private medical labs for covid-19 tests to make it free for the public.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government will study the feasibility of the apex court's suggestions. The bench, comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat, were hearing a plea which challenged the Centre's advisory to fix charges for covid-19 tests at private labs and hospitals at ₹4500.
Mehta said 15,000 tests were being done by 118 labs, but this was not sufficient. "So private labs had to be roped in," he said, adding the government has involved 47 private laboratory chains so far.