Supreme Court issues notices to Centre on petition to cap prices of COVID-19 tests

The notice was sent due to a petition filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal, who sought a cap of Rs 400 on test prices.

Moneycontrol News

November 25, 2020 / 02:10 PM IST

Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court (SC), on November 24, issued notices to the Centre through the Cabinet Secretary and the Health Secretary to cap prices of RT-PCR tests for COVID-19.

The notice was sent due to a petition filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal, who sought a cap of Rs 400 on test prices. Agrawal told the court that such tests do not cost more than Rs 200, but labs are “charging exorbitant rates for them” and that “vested interests are profiteering off the misery of people,” The Economic Times reported.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde issued the notices which are returnable in two weeks, it said.

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Prices of RT-PCR tests across states and union territories in India currently range between Rs 900 to Rs 2,800, which gives a profit margin of 1,400 percent in Andhra Pradesh and 1,200 percent in Delhi, Agrawal alleged.

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