Supreme Court issues mandamus for free PCR test for COVID-19 for public

RSS
Oct 01, 2020
Court HD

Kathmandu, Oct.1: The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus order in the name of the Ministry of Health and Population to conduct PCR test for COVID-19 free of cost to save people’s lives from the pandemic.

The joint bench of Justice Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Tanka Bahadur Moktan issued the mandamus for the same today. The full text of the verdict is yet to come out.

In recognition of primary healthcare services as the fundamental rights of the citizens as envisaged in the Constitution of Nepal, the apex court of the country ordered the Ministry to arrange free PCR test for the people.

Advocate Kesharjung KC and Lokendra Oli had filed a writ petition on September 14 demanding a mandamus order to avail free PCR test to the public.

Currently, PCR tests are free in government-run laboratories only for those who fall under the category determined by the government. Otherwise, people are bound to pay Rs. 2,200 for the test.