Court ruling on lifesaving cancer treatment welcomed by advocates

SECTION27 and Cancer Alliance, welcome the judgment handed down today by the Johannesburg High Court in the matter of Cancer Alliance v MEC for Health, Gauteng, and 10 others, declaring the failure of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) to manage and desaster radiation oncology services to patients on the backlog list unlawful and unconstitutional.

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The matter relates to the failure by the GDoH to provide radiation oncology services to 3000 patients who have been awaiting these services for over three years.

This despite a special allocation of R78 million ring-fenced by the Gauteng Treasury in March 2023 to urgently address the backlog. This court judgment follows years of attempts by Cancer Alliance and partners to negotiate and engage with the GDoH to make urgent plans to ensure the availability of these services.