Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 3: Government today admitted that the cancer cases are on rise in Jammu and Kashmir with lung cancer becoming most prominent due to smoking.
In a written reply to a question of MLC Firdous Tak in Upper House, the Minister Incharge Health and Medical Education, admitted the fact that there is an increase in the number of cancer patients in the State from last five years with Srinagar at top in year 2015.
According to official figures, 4556 cases of cancer were reported in year 2011, 4848 in 2012, 5068 in 2013, 5568 in 2014 and 6358 in 2015. The summer capital Srinagar tops the number with 898 cancer patients in 2015 while the number stands at 853 in Jammu. The lowest number of cases has been recorded in Leh and Kargil districts of the Ladakh region where it stands at 62.
In year 2015, 283 cases of cancer were reported from Ganderbal, 452 in Budgam, 451 in Pulwama, 573 in Baramulla, 263 in Kulgam, 489 in Anantnag, 169 in Shopian, 168 in Bandipora, 273 in Kupwara, 205 in Rajouri, 139 in Doda, 172 in Ramban, 118 in Udhampur, 265 in Kathua, 169 in Samba, 113 in Kishtwar, 117 in Reasi and 126 in Poonch.
In males, the cancers which have been found to be predominant include lung cancer, throat cancer, Gastre-internal cancer and Lymphoma while in females cervical cancer, breast cancer, throat cancer, Gastro-internal cancer and lung cancer have been predominant, the Minister said.
The Minister said that the diagnostic facilities/ consultation are provided on bare minimum fee and in case of BPL patents special concession is being provided by the hospital on merit basis. “Every effort is being made by the Government to help the needy cancer patients living below poverty line and such patients are being given free investigation, essential drugs are being kept available in hospital…,” said the Minister.
He further stated that the Radiotherapy treatment is being delivered free of cost. The Minister said that Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has sanctioned two new State Cancer institute’s each at Government Medical College Jammu and in SKIMS Srinagar at a cost of Rs. 120 crore each.
“Besides, three Tertiary cancer care centres are also being sanctioned by Government of India for establishment of the identified districts at Kupwara, Kishtwar and Udhampur,” the Minister said and added that a number of initiatives have been taken to strengthen the medicare facilities for cancer patients.
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