Jammu: As many as 32,425 cancer cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir over the last three years, with lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers among the most commonly detected types, the government informed the Legislative Assembly.
The information was furnished by the Health & Medical Education Department in a written reply to Question tabled by Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para, MLA Pulwama, regarding the treatment of terminal diseases in the Union Territory.
According to the official data, the Jammu Division recorded 6,804 cases during the past three years. In 2023, 2,036 cases were reported (1,177 males and 859 females), followed by 2,187 cases in 2024 (1,248 males and 939 females) and 2,581 cases in 2025 (1,116 males and 1,465 females).
The Kashmir Division reported 25,621 cases between 2022 and 2024. In 2022, 8,021 cases were recorded (4,333 males and 3,688 females). This was followed by 8,621 cases in 2023 (4,685 males and 3,936 females) and 8,979 cases in 2024 (4,789 males and 4,190 females).
The government further stated that 10,657 cancer cases were reported in 2023, while 11,166 cases were recorded in 2024 across the Union Territory. Besides the major types, gastro-intestinal malignancies, including esophageal and stomach cancers, were also commonly detected. However, the government clarified that no uncommon disease of public health significance has been reported from any district.
Regarding treatment facilities, the government informed the House that comprehensive and multidisciplinary cancer care is being provided at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Government Medical College Jammu, Government Medical College Srinagar, and the State Cancer Institute, Jammu. These institutions offer medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and clinical hematology services, supported by advanced diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including PET-CT, CT scans, dedicated CT simulators, and modern radiotherapy systems.
The House was informed that PET Scan facilities are presently available at SKIMS, Soura, and the State Cancer Institute, Jammu, as well as in select private hospitals in the Jammu Division. At present, no District Hospital or Sub-District Hospital in Jammu and Kashmir has a PET Scan facility. The government further stated that the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) has been authorized to procure a PET Scan unit worth ₹16 crore for GMC Srinagar.
Highlighting preventive measures, the department said that under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), emphasis is being laid on raising awareness about early warning signs, promoting tobacco cessation, encouraging healthy dietary practices, and advocating lifestyle modifications. Screening and early detection are being carried out through outpatient departments and health camps using diagnostic tools such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, colposcopy, EBUS, and histopathology.
Specialist oncology services are currently available at Government Medical Colleges, while patients requiring advanced care from District Hospitals and Community Health Centres are referred to tertiary care institutions.
The government reiterated its commitment to strengthening cancer care infrastructure and expanding access to advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.(CNS)
