The PIL has made the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all the states and Union territories parties to it.
The Supreme Court of India. (iStock)
The Supreme Court sought the Union government’s response in eight weeks on Thursday, 7 March, on a PIL seeking a direction to authorities to provide palliative care to terminally ill persons as part of the national health programme. A three-judge Bench took note of submissions that palliative care should be recognised and made part of the national health programme.