New Delhi: The Centre has issued an advisory to all states to cap the the cost of dengue diagnostic tests in private hospitals at Rs 600, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday.
The move comes in the wake of media reports that some private laboratories and hospitals were overcharging from patients for dengue tests.
"To regulate the cost of diagnosis of dengue by the private laboratories and some hospitals, government has taken action by issuing advisory to all states and UTs on July 5, 2016...for capping the cost of dengue diagnostic tests in the private sector/hospitals to not more than Rs 600 per test," Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda had earlier said in Parliament that there were 21 dengue deaths in the country till July 24 this year.
Nadda had earlier said eight advisories were issued to states since January while three review meetings through video conferencing took place to review the training, update of laboratory facilities and bed strength.
At least 50 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this season with 22 of these recorded this month, according to a municipal report released recently.
