Jammu and Kashmir recorded 32,425 cancer cases in three years, with lung, breast, and oral cancers among the most common, the government told the Assembly.
Feb 13, Srinagar: A total of 32,425 cancer cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years, with lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers emerging as the most commonly detected types, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Health and Medical Education Department shared the data in a written reply to a question tabled by Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para regarding the treatment of terminal diseases.
According to the reply, 6,804 cases were recorded in the Jammu Division over the last three years — 2,036 in 2023, 2,187 in 2024, and 2,581 in 2025.
In the Kashmir Division, 25,621 cases were reported during 2022, 2023, and 2024 — 8,021 in 2022, 8,621 in 2023, and 8,979 in 2024.
Official figures show that 10,657 cancer cases were reported across Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 and 11,166 in 2024.
The government said the most common cancers detected in the Union Territory include lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. It added that no specific uncommon disease of major public health significance has been reported from any particular district.
On prevention and early detection, the government said comprehensive cancer care services are available at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College, Jammu.
These institutions provide medical, surgical, and radiation oncology services, along with advanced diagnostic facilities such as PET-CT, CT scan, and MRI.
Awareness and screening programs are being conducted through outpatient services and health camps, alongside the implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Specialized oncology services are currently available at Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar, but are not available at district hospitals or community health centers.
The reply stated that PET scan facilities are presently available only at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and not at Government Medical College, Srinagar, or its associated hospitals.
The government also informed the House that two NABL-accredited food testing laboratories are operational in Jammu and Srinagar. However, both laboratories face staff shortages, with 11 vacancies each out of 19 sanctioned posts.
The matter was discussed in the House as part of a broader deliberation on terminal diseases and cancer care facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.