The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to identify the private hospitals where COVID-19 patients can get free treatment or at a minimal rate.
As per reports, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said that the private hospitals which have been given land either free of cost or at nominal rates by the government should treat coronavirus infected patients for free.
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“Why can’t private hospitals which were given land free of cost by the government, cannot treat Covid-19 patients for free. You identify all those hospitals and find out,” the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
“They have been given land either free of cost or at a very nominal cost. These private charitable hospitals should treat them for free,” the bench added.
The Supreme Court posted the matter for hearing after one week.
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The bench was hearing a plea, filed by advocate Sachin Jain, which alleged that private hospitals are commercially exploiting patients suffering from coronavirus in this hour of crisis.
The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre to bear the cost of COVID-19 treatment at private hospitals for the poor and vulnerable who does not have any insurance cover nor have coverage under government schemes.
As per the plea, the petitioner also urged the Centre to regulate the cost of coronavirus treatment in private hospitals