Kerala HC quashes govt order to slash RT-PCR rates in private labs

The Kerala High Court on Monday quashed a State Government order that brought down the fee chargeable for RT-PCR tests by private laboratories from 1,700 to 500 rupees. The court allowed petitions filed by a couple of private laboratories challenging the government order against the reduction of rates. Justice T. R. Ravi also directed the State Government to fix a new rate after holding discussions with the laboratories. The petitioners contended that reducing the rates will adversely affect the quality of RT-PCR tests, which may lead to inaccurate results.

According to the petitioners,  the clientele of the private labs is persons, who have to travel abroad or those who intend to undergo surgeries and operations in private hospitals. In both these cases, the accuracy of the tests cannot, at any rate, be diluted. Cheaper testing kits are available in the market but they may not produce accurate results. They alleged that the government issued the order unilaterally and without affording them a chance of being heard. The petitioners also pointed out that criminal cases were being initiated against those who refuse to function at a loss.

The state government submitted that the cost of kits, consumables have drastically come down and the argument of the private labs that the only way to move forward is to use test kits that are cheaper and not up to the mark in getting an accurate result was without any basis. The rate in Punjab is only Rs. 415, in Maharashtra it is Rs 500, in Haryana and Uttarkhand also Rs. 500, the government said