The Supreme Court of India has sought responses from the Union government and all states on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to declare cancer a notifiable disease nationwide. The petition filed by a former head of Surgical Disciplines at AIIMS, New Delhi, argues that mandatory notification is essential to ensure uniform reporting, early detection, and timely care for cancer patients across the country. The Court took note of submissions highlighting the failure of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and several states to notify cancer as a reportable disease.
The plea contends that this omission represents a serious breach of the state’s constitutional obligations under Articles 14 and 21, as it leads to unequal treatment of patients and undermines the right to health and life with dignity. The petition emphasizes that the lack of mandatory reporting has resulted…
