Govt has no right to reduce test rates; Lab owners approach high court against slashing rates of RT PCR tests

KOCHI: Lab owners are gearing up for a legal fight against the government’s move to reduce the cost of RT-PCR tests from 1,700 to Rs 500. The lab owners had approached the high court citing that the government has no right to reduce the price of tests. The lab owners had demanded that the government order be cancelled.

Earlier though the government has reduced the price of tests, the lab owners were able to secure a conducive verdict through the high court. But as the rate of transmission has increased government was forced to reduce the test rates. But the labs informed the government that the tests could not be undertaken at the rates fixed by the government. The government replied that through a study appointed by a special committee, it was found that only Rs 240 is enough to cover the costs of the tests and if more money is levied then action will be taken against the labs. With this, the labs have again approached the high court. In the plea filed before the court, the lab owners have said that slashing the price of tests will affect its quality and if the costs of tests need to be reduced then the government has to pay them subsidies. The case will be taken up by the court on Tuesday.