[ad_1]
Mumbai:
Allowing non-public laboratories to conduct RT-PCR and antibody exams for the coronavirus outbreak as an alternative of an company of the Centre by the Maharashtra authorities had resulted in “loot” of Rs 270 crore because of distinction in take a look at charges, BJP chief Pravin Darekar mentioned on Friday.
The chief of opposition within the Legislative Council claimed the Centre’s HLL Lifecare Ltd was providing such exams as decrease charges however the Uddhav Thackeray authorities opted for personal laboratories, resulting in a lack of Rs 270 crore.
“This loot must be probed by a retired judge. The Centre’s agency had, on July 7, said it would conduct each RT-PCR test for Rs 1,700. However, at the time, the state government fixed the rate at Rs 1,900-Rs 2,200 for private laboratories. On August 19, the Centre’s agency said it would conduct the RT-PCR test for Rs 795,” Mr Darekar mentioned.
“The difference in rates of the Centre’s authorized company and private laboratories was Rs 1,256. Now, if we consider that private laboratories conducted 50 per cent of the total tests in the state, they have conducted 19,34,096 tests so far,” he mentioned.
“And people had to pay Rs 1,256 extra for each of the tests. That means people had to shell out Rs 242.92 crore more. Similarly, the HLL Lifecare offered antibody tests at Rs 291 as against the Rs 599 quoted by private laboratories. This difference comes to Rs 27 crore. In all, Rs 270 crore was looted,” he claimed.
Mr Darekar mentioned had HLL Lifecare been given the contract for testing, then individuals headed for the Konkan for Ganpati festivities from Mumbai in late August may have gotten themselves examined for the virus for Rs 796 as an alternative of Rs 4,500.
This would have benefited 15 lakh individuals, he mentioned.
The Maharashtra authorities had requested these desirous to journey to Konkan inside 10 days of the beginning of the competition to get themselves examined for the an infection.
He mentioned the state authorities gave the contract to personal entities slightly than a Central authorities one as “they wanted to make money”.
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink