Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Action on Cancer Drug Pricing After Patient's Death
The Supreme Court on Friday (July 17, 2026) took suo motu cognisance of a matter concerning access to life-saving medicines, highlighting the judicial system's role in protecting the right to life.
The case originates from a petition filed in the Kerala High Court in 2022 by a woman from Ernakulam suffering from breast cancer. She challenged the exorbitant prices of patented cancer drugs. However, she died while the case was pending.
Following her death, the Kerala High Court decided to continue the proceedings suo motu, recognising the larger public interest involved, and retitled the case as 'In Re Exorbitant Pricing of Life Saving Patented Medicines'.
Taking note of the matter, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice, asking the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court to ensure expeditious disposal of the case.
The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the constitutional duty to safeguard citizens' right to health and life. The case raises critical questions about the affordability of patented medicines and the balance between intellectual property rights and access to healthcare.
The court has not yet set a date for the next hearing. The matter continues to be monitored by the judiciary to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented and that life-saving drugs remain accessible to all.
