The Supreme Court has suggested reasonable pricing by governments and uniformity in Covid-19 testing being carried across the country. Observing different prices of coronavirus tests across different states, the court asked Centre and state governments to look into the issue. The top court also instructed Centre and state governments to remove lapses in patient care and handling of dead bodies, while hearing a suo motu case on lapses in care of Covid-19 patients. Governments have been ordered to install CCTV cameras in all wards, form teams of experts to take necessary remedial action and visit hospitals.
The court will now hear the case on 8 July, while the Centre and states have been asked to file replies. After getting a rap on their knuckles in previous hearings for filing cases against medical staff, the Delhi government submitted that whatever action was being contemplated against medical staff is no longer being taken. The apex court last week had asked all governments to ensure a steep increase in Covid testing by both government and private labs. Court had also expressed concern on violation of MHA guidelines and deplorable conditions in Delhi’s hospitals.
In a relief for symptomatic patients unaware of their COVID infection status, the Supreme Court has ordered the state government of Maharashtra to review its order to deny sharing of COVIDpositive test reports with patients and their relatives. The apex court observed that there was no logic behind such secrecy by the state government.