In Brief

During the severe second wave of COVID-19 in April 2021, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a humanitarian crisis affecting oxygen, vaccines, and essential medicine availability. The Court directed the Central Government to remedy Delhi's oxygen deficit within 2 days, create decentralized buffer oxygen stocks, establish a uniform national hospital admission policy, and reconsider vaccine procurement policies that allow differential pricing between government and private channels. The Court flagged compulsory licensing under the Patents Act as an available tool for essential drugs and recommended price regulations. It also reaffirmed citizens' right to share health information on social media without government harassment and emphasized healthcare worker welfare. The petition was disposed with multiple directions pending compliance by May 10, 2021.

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