Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu
Jammu, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that 32,425 cancer cases have been recorded across the Union Territory over the past three years.
Replying to a question raised by PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, Health Minister Sakina Itoo said that lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers are among the most commonly reported malignancies in the region.
Regional Break-Up of Cases
In the Jammu division, 6,804 cases were registered between 2023 and 2025 — 2,036 in 2023, 2,187 in 2024 and 2,581 in 2025.
In the Kashmir division, 25,621 cases were reported over three years — 8,021 in 2022, 8,621 in 2023 and 8,979 in 2024.
The minister stated that no unusual or region-specific public health disease has been identified, but gastrointestinal cancers — including oesophageal, stomach and colorectal malignancies — along with lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers remain the most frequently diagnosed.
Treatment and Diagnostic Facilities
Comprehensive cancer care is being provided at leading tertiary institutions, including the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.
These centres offer multidisciplinary services in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, as well as clinical haematology. They are equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities such as PET-CT, CT scans, dedicated CT simulators and modern radiotherapy systems.
Cancer care services are also available at GMC Jammu, the State Cancer Institute Jammu, SMGS Hospital, Bone & Joint Hospital, and at GMC Srinagar through SMHS Hospital. However, specialist oncology services are currently limited to Government Medical Colleges and are not available at district hospitals or Community Health Centres (CHCs).
PET Scan Availability
The PET scan facility is presently operational at SKIMS, Soura. In Jammu division, PET scan services are available at the State Cancer Institute, Jammu. Additionally, private facilities such as Narayana Super Speciality Hospital and the American Oncology Institute at ASCOM also provide PET scan services.
The minister informed the House that no PET scan facility is currently available at GMC Srinagar or its associated hospitals. However, the Health and Medical Education Department has authorised the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) to procure a PET scan unit worth ?16 crore for GMC Srinagar.
Preventive Measures and Policy Initiatives
The government is implementing multiple measures for early detection and prevention under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS). These include public awareness campaigns, screening through outpatient services and health camps, and diagnostic procedures such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, colposcopy, EBUS and histopathology.
Screening camps have been organised in districts including Samba and Kathua in collaboration with AIIMS Vijayapur, along with other districts across the UT.
The minister also revealed that a high-level meeting chaired by a member of NITI Aayog, with participation from ICMR, the Department of Health Research, Tata Memorial Hospital and PGI Chandigarh, was convened to frame a comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment strategy for Jammu and Kashmir.
Patients requiring advanced care are referred to GMCs and tertiary institutions, with specialised oncology services available at GMC Jammu and SKIMS Soura for the Kashmir region.
The government has placed emphasis on public education regarding early warning signs and modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, diet and lifestyle changes, aiming to strengthen cancer prevention and early intervention efforts across the Union Territory.