Srinagar, Sept 22: Jammu and Kashmir is strengthening its cancer-control programme with greater emphasis on early detection, specialised treatment and financial assistance, as the number of cancer patients in the Union Territory has reached around 51,000, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo said the administration was expanding cancer screening beyond hospitals and taking services closer to communities to identify cases at an early stage.
Responding to a question by MLA Mir Saifullah regarding the number of cancer patients, existing treatment facilities and measures being taken to tackle the disease, Itoo said early diagnosis remained one of the key priorities of the government.
“Early detection is crucial, particularly as many cases were previously diagnosed only when the disease had reached an advanced stage,” the minister said.
She said the Health Department had been strengthening screening at the community and doorstep levels so that people could undergo preliminary checks without having to wait until symptoms became severe.
The government has also established two State Cancer Institutes in Jammu and Kashmir—one at SKIMS Soura and the other at Government Medical College Jammu. The facilities have been established with financial and technical support from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
According to the government, the two institutes are designed to provide comprehensive oncology services, covering diagnosis, treatment and other specialised cancer-care requirements. The expansion is aimed at improving access to advanced treatment within the Union Territory and strengthening the existing healthcare network.
The Health and Medical Education Department said cancer incidence had shown an upward trend globally and that Jammu and Kashmir had also witnessed a similar pattern. Gastrointestinal, lung and breast cancers constitute a significant proportion of malignancies reported in the region.
To ensure greater coordination among institutions, the government has constituted an Apex Committee to guide cancer-prevention and treatment efforts. The committee will formulate measures relating to prevention, screening and treatment, with the Director of SKIMS designated as its Nodal Officer.
Itoo said the government was simultaneously working on upgrading infrastructure and equipment and addressing manpower requirements at SKIMS and Government Medical Colleges.
“Treatment is being planned according to the type and stage of cancer and the requirements of individual patients,” she said, adding that specialised facilities were being strengthened to provide more comprehensive care.
The government has also placed emphasis on reducing the financial burden on cancer patients and their families. Eligible beneficiaries can avail themselves of cashless or free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at empanelled government and private healthcare institutions, subject to prescribed eligibility conditions, treatment packages and guidelines.
For economically weaker sections, additional assistance has been put in place. The minister said cancer medicines were being provided free of cost to eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries.
Patients meeting the eligibility requirements can also receive treatment and medicine-related benefits through Ayushman Bharat.
In cases where poor and needy patients require further financial assistance, support is available through the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP), subject to eligibility criteria, government guidelines and availability of funds.
The government has also begun cervical cancer vaccination in Jammu and Kashmir as part of its preventive health measures. Itoo said breast cancer and other major forms of cancer continued to receive particular attention from the administration.
The minister informed the House that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also held meetings concerning cancer and treatment facilities in the Union Territory. Suggestions made by legislators regarding improvement of oncology services, she said, would be examined by the government.
Itoo further stressed that the fight against cancer required participation beyond the healthcare system.
“Cancer prevention, early detection and awareness cannot be the responsibility of the government alone,” she said, urging greater public participation in screening, awareness and preventive-health initiatives.
The government said its broader strategy was aimed at detecting cancer earlier, expanding specialised treatment capacity, improving access to medicines and ensuring that eligible patients receive financial protection while undergoing prolonged and often costly treatment.
