<p>The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Union government to respond to a PIL seeking framing of guidelines to avail facilities of private hospitals for <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> treatment and quarantine by those who can very well afford it.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-live-updates-today-lockdown-50-maharashtra-karnataka-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bangalore-delhi-bengaluru-kolkata-chennai-covid-19-news-world-narendra-modi-843634.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>Petitioner, Avishek Goenka also wanted the constitution of a joint expert committee for examining and recommending best global practices for treatment of COVID-19 and making its recommendations binding on all states.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, M R Shah and V Ramasubramanian agreed to examine the plea made by Kolkata resident, Avishek Goenka.</p>.<p>The court asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who would take instructions and respond in a week's time.</p>.<p>The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre to immediately enrol more private hospitals for COVID-19 post-infection treatment. </p>.<p>He raised a question of law whether a person who is willing and has means to afford quality healthcare could be forced to go to a government-owned or aided quarantine centre or hospital, against his choice denying him a quality of life in the name of a pandemic.</p>.<p>The petitioner contended that absence of policies or guidelines for availing facilities in private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment was violative of Article 14 (equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) for being manifestly arbitrary. </p>.<p>It is submitted that COVID-19 patients who can afford the cost of private healthcare, should have the option of paying for it, his plea said.</p>.<p>He sought a direction to the Centre to immediately frame and advertise the mechanism to avail private hospitals facility, in case of COVID-19 infection as per the choice and affordability of the patient.</p>.<p>Among other pleas, Goenka said the government should direct the insurance companies to immediately settle, full claims, which were raised as per government-specified rates.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Union government to respond to a PIL seeking framing of guidelines to avail facilities of private hospitals for <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> treatment and quarantine by those who can very well afford it.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-live-updates-today-lockdown-50-maharashtra-karnataka-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bangalore-delhi-bengaluru-kolkata-chennai-covid-19-news-world-narendra-modi-843634.html" target="_blank">For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</a></strong></p>.<p>Petitioner, Avishek Goenka also wanted the constitution of a joint expert committee for examining and recommending best global practices for treatment of COVID-19 and making its recommendations binding on all states.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, M R Shah and V Ramasubramanian agreed to examine the plea made by Kolkata resident, Avishek Goenka.</p>.<p>The court asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who would take instructions and respond in a week's time.</p>.<p>The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre to immediately enrol more private hospitals for COVID-19 post-infection treatment. </p>.<p>He raised a question of law whether a person who is willing and has means to afford quality healthcare could be forced to go to a government-owned or aided quarantine centre or hospital, against his choice denying him a quality of life in the name of a pandemic.</p>.<p>The petitioner contended that absence of policies or guidelines for availing facilities in private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment was violative of Article 14 (equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty) for being manifestly arbitrary. </p>.<p>It is submitted that COVID-19 patients who can afford the cost of private healthcare, should have the option of paying for it, his plea said.</p>.<p>He sought a direction to the Centre to immediately frame and advertise the mechanism to avail private hospitals facility, in case of COVID-19 infection as per the choice and affordability of the patient.</p>.<p>Among other pleas, Goenka said the government should direct the insurance companies to immediately settle, full claims, which were raised as per government-specified rates.</p>
