Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of matter regarding access to life-saving medicines
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the 'In Re Exorbitant Pricing of Life Saving Patented Medicines' case to address the issue of unaffordable cancer drugs.
Background
The Supreme Court took cognizance on July 17, 2026, regarding a plea filed in 2022 by a woman in Kerala. The court directed the Kerala High Court Chief Justice to expedite the disposal of cases involving high prices of patented life-saving medicines.
Facts for Prelims
- BodySupreme Court of India: Has the power to take suo motu cognizance of matters of public importance.
- PlaceKerala: State where the original plea regarding cancer drug pricing originated.
- FactThe original plea challenging exorbitant drug prices was filed in 2022.
For Mains
Q. Examine the conflict between the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and the fundamental right to health in the context of high-priced life-saving medicines.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Right to Life vs. IPR: Balancing Article 21's right to health with the patent protections provided under the Patents Act.
- Regulatory oversight: Need for a robust price-capping mechanism for essential life-saving drugs to prevent predatory pricing.
Keywords: Right to Health · Intellectual Property Rights · Suo Motu Cognizance · Affordability · Judicial Activism
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