South Africa’s antitrust regulator has recommended that Roche (RHHBY) should be penalized for allegedly “excessive” pricing of its Herceptin breast cancer treatment, arguing it violates basic human rights by impeding access to a life-saving medicine.
More than 10,000 breast cancer patients — nearly half of the total number of newly diagnosed patients — were unable to obtain the medicine due to cost between 2011 and 2020 in the private and public health care sectors, according to the Competition Commission, which referred the matter to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution.
“The Commission has prioritized this case because the impact of excessive pricing falls heavily on women, particularly poor women, who cannot access essential treatment because they cannot afford to pay for it. This is so even for the minority of women who belong to medical schemes, said Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele in a statement.
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