Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Addresses Affordability of Life-Saving Medicines
The Supreme Court in India is looking into why life-saving medicines are so expensive.
A woman with breast cancer passed away while waiting for a decision on a costly drug.
The government says breast cancer isn't a national emergency, but it's the most common cancer in women.
Treatments can cost up to Rs 7.2 lakhs, which is too expensive for most people.
The government has tools to make medicines cheaper, like compulsory licensing, but they haven't used them much.
The Kerala High Court has capped trade margins to make drugs more affordable.
The government needs to do more to help people get the medicines they need.
The Supreme Court is addressing the affordability of life-saving medicines in India, particularly for breast cancer treatment.
A woman with breast cancer died while waiting for a decision on a costly drug, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
The government has not prioritized making patented, expensive medicines affordable, despite breast cancer being the most common cancer among women.
Treatment for breast cancer with newer drugs can cost up to Rs 7.2 lakhs, making it inaccessible for most people.
The government has tools like compulsory licensing to make medicines cheaper, but these have been underutilized.
- Who
- The Supreme Court and Kerala High Court are addressing the issue of affordable life-saving medicines in India.
- What
- The affordability and accessibility of life-saving medicines, particularly for breast cancer treatment, are being scrutinized.
- When
- The issue has been brought to the forefront recently, with the Supreme Court taking up the matter suo motu.
- Where
- The discussions and legal actions are taking place in India, specifically involving the Supreme Court and Kerala High Court.
- Why
- The high cost of life-saving medicines, such as those for breast cancer, is putting them beyond the reach of the majority, leading to preventable deaths and highlighting the need for government intervention.
- Drug Cost
- Up to Rs 7.2 lakhs for a 12 to 36 month treatment cycle
- Breast Cancer Prevalence
- Most common cancer among women, accounting for 28%
- Compulsory Licensing
- Used only once in 2012 for a kidney cancer drug
- Trade Margins
- Capped at 30% by the Kerala High Court
- National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)
- Includes many older molecules but lacks commitment for patented, expensive medicines