Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 30: In a matter of serious concern for the State as well as Union Health Ministry, the deadly cancer disease has constantly been spreading its tentacles in Jammu and Kashmir during the past several years due to lack of facilities for early detection and awareness among the people about the factors contributing in the same.
As per the data of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the cases of various types of cancer including prostate cancer and related deaths are on the rise in Jammu and Kashmir during the past some years. The increase in the number of cases is being attributed to unhealthy life styles, use of tobacco and tobacco products and unhealthy diets besides lack of awareness about the factors responsible for this deadly disease.
According to the data, even deaths due to this disease are also on rise during the past some years mainly because of lack of facilities for early detection of this disease. At present, for the cancer screening the patients are paying through their nose to get the same conducted outside the State and this is also contributing in late detection of the disease and subsequently leading to increase in mortality rate.
In 2011, there were a total of 10688 cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir and this number increased to 11052 in 2012 and 11428 in 2013. During the current year, a total of 11815 cancer cases have come to the fore in Jammu and Kashmir so far.
As far as mortality cancer cases are concerned, the number was 4703 in 2011 and the same increased to 4863 in 2012 and 5028 in 2013. During the current year, 5198 mortality cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir so far.
According to the data, the number of prostate cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir during 2011 was 344 and the same increased to 366 in 2012 and 390 in 2013. During the current year, 415 prostate cancer cases have been reported till date.
The data further revealed that there were 144 deaths due to prostate cancer in Jammu and Kashmir during 2011 and the number surged to 154 in 2012 and 164 in 2013. During current year the mortality cases have increased to 174.
“No doubt health is a State subject but the Central Government is supplementing the efforts of State for improving healthcare including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer”, official sources said, adding “in the year 2013-14, the Union Government approved a scheme for enhancing the Tertiary Care Cancer facilities in the country under which Tertiary Care Cancer Centres are established with the assistance at the ratio of 90:10 (90% Central Share and 10% State Share)”.
Under this scheme, two Tertiary Cancer Centres were sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir by the then Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad last year. However, no significant progress could be made in establishing these centres till date.
“The Union Health Ministry has not released funds for the establishment of these cancer centres—one in Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu and another in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar”, sources informed.
When contacted, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din confirmed that Union Government has yet not released funds required for the establishment of two Tertiary Care Cancer Centres.
“We have submitted project reports as well as designs strictly as per the guidelines of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer”, he said, adding “we have completed all the formalities as expeditiously as possible and whenever the funds are released by the Union Government the work for establishment of these centres will begin”.
In response to a question, he said that each centre would cost Rs 45 crore. Of the Rs 45 crore, an amount of Rs 30 crore would be spent on the purchase of PET Scan and Linear Accelerator while as Rs 15 crore each would be incurred on the building. Both the PET Scan and Linear Accelerator are used in cancer screening and are the most advanced equipment. At present, there is no PET Scan and Linear Accelerator in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that these two Tertiary Cancer Centres would go long way in meeting the requirement of cancer-related treatments within State and would provide respite to the patients from paying through their nose for such treatments in the institutions and centres outside the Jammu and Kashmir.
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