SC ultimatum to states on pain killer for cancer patients

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar granted 3 weeks time to defaulting states to comply with the directive by filing affidavits, failing which it said their Chief Secretaries would have to appear in person.

The apex court passed the order while dealing with a 2007 PIL filed by an NGO Indian Association of Palliative Care pleading for easy access for Morphine to cancer patients in the country.

Because of its possible misuse by drug addicts, the availability of Morphine preparations is greatly restricted in India and the sale is governed by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. (more)