Court Rules Against Unfair SSI: Access to Healthcare Must Not Be Restricted
Ankara Woman Wins Legal Battle for Cancer Medicine Coverage
In a groundbreaking case in Ankara, a woman who was unable to afford a life-saving cancer medicine has won her legal battle to have the cost covered by the Social Security Institution (SSI).
The woman, whose name has been kept private, was in urgent need of a medicine worth 117 thousand lira, which was not included in the covered drugs list of the SSI. Despite her pleas for assistance due to the difference in exchange rates, her request was denied.
In a desperate move to save her own life, the woman filed a petition to the SSI to cover the cost of 8 globes of medicine worth 702 thousand liras. When her petition was rejected, she took the matter to court.
The court’s ruling was in favor of the woman, stating that “access to health cannot be prevented” and ordered the medicine to be covered by the SSI. This decision was a significant win for the woman and set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
However, the SSI lawyers appealed the decision, but the Administrative Case Office upheld the court’s ruling, stating that there was no violation of the law.
This decision has brought hope to many other patients who may find themselves in a similar situation, showing that with determination and legal support, access to life-saving medicines cannot be denied. It has also shed light on the importance of expanding the list of covered drugs by the SSI to ensure that all citizens have access to necessary medical treatment.
