PIL against price cap on RT-PCR tests at Rs 800: HC seeks Delhi Govt's response

It said that the Delhi government while capping the charges for RT-PCR tests has not taken in to account that the three methods of testing being RT-PCR, CBNAAT and TRUNAT are loosely referred to as RT-PCR based molecular tests in general parlance but the said tests differ in their respective sensitivity, specificity and turnaround times and the costs involved in doing all these tests are different and so is the capabilities of various labs in the private sector to conduct such tests on account of infrastructural and capital requirements.

"While the costs to labs for doing RTPCR (open system) tests is around Rs 1,200, the cost for TRUNAT is around Rs 2000 and the cost for CBNAAT tests is around 3500," the plea said.

The Delhi government, on November 30, issued the order capping charges for all RTPCR based molecular testing at Rs 800, which does not even cover the basic consumable costs, the petitioner submitted.

It also urged the court to direct the respondent to grant a mandatory consultation to the relevant stakeholders or representatives of the petitioner association before issuing any further order for capping the prices of RT-PCR, TruNAT, CBNAAT tests.

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