57 court listings, no verdict: Urgent plea for breast cancer drug case hearing
A group advocating for access to essential medicines has written to the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, with copies to the President and the Chief Justice of India, seeking urgent administrative intervention to expedite the final hearing of a case concerning the life-saving breast cancer drug Ribociclib.
The letter highlights that the matter has been listed 57 times before the High Court without a final hearing, despite both sides having completed their arguments. The writ petition was originally filed in June 2022, and the original petitioner died during the early stages of the litigation. The High Court subsequently continued the proceedings on its own motion, recognizing the wider public interest involved.
The case centers on the availability of Ribociclib for patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer, a common form of the disease. India reported over 1.9 lakh new cases and nearly 98,337 deaths from breast cancer in 2022, underscoring the urgency of ensuring access to effective treatments.
The working group's representation, dated July 10, calls for the court to prioritize the case, noting that delays in judicial proceedings can have life-or-death consequences for patients who cannot afford or access the drug through other means.
