What action have you taken against illegal online health service aggregators: HC asks Delhi govt

New Delhi: In the latest update regarding the contempt plea seeking action against illegal online health service aggregators, the Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government and other concerned authorities to file an affidavit explaining the mechanism that is being adopted to comply with the earlier order of the HC, wherein it had initiated action against such service providers who violated law.

Apart from directing to file the affidavit, the bench comprising of Justice Subramonium Prasad also sought to know about the steps that are being taken when a complaint is received that a lab is operating without licence.

"The respondents are directed to file an affidavit delineating mechanism being followed to ensure that the order dated 06.08.2020 is being complied with in its letter and spirit, and the steps that are taken when a complaint is received that a lab is functioning without the requisite licence in the city of Delhi," the bench noted.

Listing the matter for further hearing on June 1, the HC bench further asked GNTCD, ICMR and Delhi Police to remain present in the court on the next date of hearing and assist the court in the proceedings.

"The responsible Officers of the GNCTD, ICMR and Delhi Police are directed to be present in the Court on the next date of hearing to assist the Court in this regard," it added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a division bench of the high court, on August 6, 2020, had directed the Delhi government to take action in accordance with law against online health service aggregators, who are operating illegally without any registration, after hearing all the stakeholders.

Also Read: Define Requisite Standards of COVID testing by Online health Aggregators: HC tells ICMR, Govt

It had been alleged in the plea that rampant illegal sample collection by online health service aggregators was leading to false-negative COVID-19 results thereby letting loose the coronavirus positive patients in the society and hence, unfortunately, allowing them to transmit or spread the virus.

However, the petitioner claimed that no action has been taken against the online aggregators by the authorities.

During the last hearing of the case on February 14, 2022, the petitioner doctor had informed the HC bench that there was no monitoring of aggregators rendering service in Delhi apropos COVID related tests by Delhi Government. He had further claimed that the service providers who may be located outside the national capital were operating without any supervision by any authority statutory agency or government.

Back then, taking note of the fact that there was no mechanism of oversight by the State government, relating to the collection of blood samples in Delhi for tests, the bench had directed the Delhi Government to formulate and operationalise a regime for surprise checks, inspections, and audits as may be appropriate.