Fazil Mir
Jammu, Feb 13 (KNC):
An average of nearly 89 cancer cases per day were reported in Jammu and Kashmir over the last three years, as the Government informed the Legislative Assembly that 32,425 cases were recorded during the period.
According to official data shared by the Health & Medical Education Department in a written reply to Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, the total cases translate to approximately 10,808 cases per year and about 89 cases per day (32,425 ÷ 3 years = 10,808 per year; 10,808 ÷ 365 ≈ 29.6 per month per 10 days, or nearly 89 per day across the UT over three years).
The Government stated that lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers are the most commonly detected types in the Union Territory.
Division-wise Data
In Jammu Division, a total of 6,804 cases were reported over three years:
- 2,036 cases in 2023
- 2,187 cases in 2024
- 2,581 cases in 2025
In Kashmir Division, 25,621 cases were recorded during 2022, 2023 and 2024:
- 8,021 cases in 2022
- 8,621 cases in 2023
- 8,979 cases in 2024
The combined total stood at 10,657 cases in 2023 and 11,166 cases in 2024, reflecting a steady rise in reported cases.
The Government clarified that no specific uncommon disease of major public health significance has been reported from any particular district.
Cancer Care Facilities
Comprehensive cancer treatment services are currently available at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura and the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu.
These institutions provide medical, surgical and radiation oncology services along with advanced diagnostics such as PET-CT, CT scan, and MRI. The PET scan facility, however, is presently available only at SKIMS, Soura, and not at GMC Srinagar or its associated hospitals.
Specialized oncology services are available at Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar, while district hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs) do not have dedicated oncology units.
Preventive Measures
The Government informed the House that awareness and screening programmes are being conducted through outpatient departments and health camps under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS).
Additionally, two NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories are functional in Jammu and Srinagar. However, both are facing manpower shortages, with 11 out of 19 sanctioned posts vacant in each laboratory.
The matter was discussed in the Assembly as part of a broader review of terminal diseases and cancer care infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. (KNC)
