New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The Delhi High Court on Monday fixed the price of COVID-19 kits at Rs 400 each. The kits were previously ordered by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) from China at Rs 600 per kit.
"Public interest must outweigh the private gain. The lis between the parties should give way to the larger public good. In view of the above, the kits/test should be sold at a price not beyond Rs. 400/- per kit/test inclusive of GST", read the order from Delhi High Court.
The court observed, " a profit mark-up of Rs 155 i.e. 61 per cent on the landed cost price of Rs 245 is on much higher side and in any case more than sufficient."
It has further observed, "The country is going through an unprecedented medical crisis affecting public order... There is an element of disquiet apropos one’s safety. For people to be assured that the pandemic is under control and for governments to ensure and for agencies engaged in the frontline battle to safeguard people’s health, more kits/tests should be made available urgently at the lowest cost, for carrying out extensive tests throughout the country."
The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by a petitioner. The dispute was over the non-supply of kits by importer without payment first while the distributor insisted upon the payment after the release of funds by ICMR.
The ICMR had placed an order of 5 lakh test kits from the petitioner at a rate of Rs 600 per kit.