Why aren’t infected given free treatment, asks Telangana high court

HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court gave eight days to both state and central governments to reply to a PIL that sought free treatment to Covid-19 patients. The court had already asked why Rs 4,500 is charged for each coronavirus test by private hospitals and why the service was not made free.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan on Thursday asked the state and central governments about their stand on free treatment to all the coronavirus-affected persons and sought replies from by April 17, the next date of hearing.
Sitting along with Justice T Amarnath Goud, the CJ enquired with the advocates representing the state and central governments whether they were aware of a circular issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) bringing the treatment for Covid-19 patients under insurance cover. None of them said they were not aware of it.
In fact, the bench converted a letter written by advocate P Thirumala Rao into a PIL. Rao, in his letter, expressed apprehensions over reports that certain private hospitals were authorised to conduct Covid-19 diagnostic tests at Rs 4,500 per person and wanted the court to direct the state and the Centre to do it for free. In the meantime, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conduct these tests free of cost. The counsel informed the same to CJ Chauhan during the hearing of his plea on Thursday and wanted the bench to direct the governments to accord Covid-19 treatment also for free.
Rao said IRDA had already brought Covid-19 under the insurance cover and hence it should be made clear to all the insurance companies to include Covid-19 in the existing insurance policies, referring to the circular issued in the beginning of March. “A direction to the Centre, insurance companies and IRDA to extend coverage to Covid-19 diagnosis and treatment to all the existing medical insurance policies will serve the purpose,” he said. “The state should bring it under Aarogyasri to cover the poor,” he added.
Referring to the lack of awareness about IRDA circular, Thirumala Rao told TOI that it is the common fate of several welfare circulars.
The CJ sought replies from the state and the Centre by April 17. Advocate general BS Prasad filed a counter, explaining the arrangements made by the state government to reach out to all the stranded labourers. “Rice and money are being given to more than three lakh stranded people though they do not possess any ration cards and address proofs here,” he said. “This is in addition to the rice and money being given to nearly one crore white ration card holders in the state,” he added.