Supreme Court query on free Covid-19 treatment

A PIL had sought a directive to the government to ensure that private and corporate hospitals are restrained from fleecing patients

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre why private hospitals cannot be asked to provide free or subsidised medical treatment to Covid-19 patients, particularly the hospitals that had got government land at concessional prices.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde posed the query to solicitor general Tushar Mehta during a brief hearing.

The bench asked Mehta to take steps to identify private hospitals, particularly those established with charitable motives, for providing free or subsidised treatment to Covid patients.

On the Centre’s request, the court adjourned the matter by a week.

A PIL filed by an advocate, Sachin Jain, had sought a directive to the government to ensure that private and corporate hospitals are restrained from fleecing Covid-19 patients.