Tocantins court orders state to provide non-standardized cancer medication

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Tocantins (MPTO) has secured a court order to ensure a patient with metastatic breast cancer receives medication not currently included in the Unified Health System (SUS) list. The patient, who has been battling the disease since 2014, requires the specific treatment as it was identified by hospital professionals as the only viable and safe therapeutic option following the failure of previous SUS-provided treatments.

The Court of Justice ruled that the State of Tocantins must provide the medication within five days. Failure to comply will result in the freezing of funds for private acquisition and a daily fine of R$ 500.00, capped at R$ 10,000.00. Medical reports indicated that withholding the drug increases the risk of tumor progression and reduces the patient's quality of life and survival chances. The judge noted that this judicial intervention serves to guarantee fundamental rights rather than interfering in public policy.