| Health Minister Sakina Itoo sounds alarm, says cancer cases on rise in J&K | | ‘32000 recorded in 3 years, number increasing steadily’ | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 13: Cancer cases are steadily rising in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with 32,425 patients reported over the past three years — a figure that underlines the growing burden of the disease in the region.
Lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers are among the most commonly detected cases, according to official data.
The figures were shared by Health & Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo in a written reply to a question raised by Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on the treatment of terminal diseases.
As per the reply, Jammu Division recorded 6,804 cancer cases over the last three years — 2,036 in 2023, 2,187 in 2024 and 2,581 in 2025, indicating a consistent upward trend.
Kashmir Division reported a much higher number, with 25,621 cases between 2022 and 2024 — 8,021 in 2022, 8,621 in 2023 and 8,979 in 2024.
Overall, 10,657 cancer cases were reported across Jammu and Kashmir in 2023, rising to 11,166 in 2024, reflecting a noticeable year-on-year increase.
The Government stated that no particular district has reported any uncommon disease of major public health significance. However, the prevalence of common cancers such as lung and breast cancer continues to remain a serious concern.
On the infrastructure fr nt, the Government said comprehensive cancer care services are available at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. These centres provide medical, surgical and radiation oncology services, supported by advanced diagnostic facilities including PET-CT, CT scans, MRI and other specialised investigations.
Awareness drives and screening programmes are being conducted through outpatient departments and health camps. The Government is also implementing the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS) to strengthen early detection and management.
Specialised oncology services are currently available at Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar. However, such facilities are not yet available at district hospitals or Community Health Centres, limiting access for patients in remote areas.
The reply further noted that PET scan services are presently available only at SKIMS, Soura, and not at GMC Srinagar or its associated hospitals.
The issue was discussed in the Assembly as part of a broader conversation on terminal illnesses and the preparedness of cancer care infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir — a challenge that is clearly growing year by year. |
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