Cancer is a deadly disease. So far, no dependable cure of the disease is found though great research all over the world and especially in developed countries is gong on to find the roots of the disease and its cure. Taking into account the fatalities caused by this incurable disease and the loss to the society, the Government has established cancer wards and cancer specialist doctors in most of the State Government medical colleges. Jammu has shown upward trend in the number of cancer patients when more recent data is compared. Speaking on the floor of the House, Minister-in-charge Health and Medical Education stated that 6300 persons were detected with cancer in 2013, and it witnessed steep increase in 2014 with 7098 persons being detected with cancer. The number stands at 4993 so far this year. The Government tried to defend some of the measures undertaken by the Department of Health to fight cancer. Out of 18391 cancer patients, 17515 are undergoing treatment. In a separate reply to another question, the Health Department stated that two cancer institutions are sanctioned with one at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar and another at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu. In addition, three Tertiary Care Cancer Center in three districts are also opened including at Kupwara in Kashmir Division and Kishtwar and Udhampur in Jammu Division.
These are good and praiseworthy steps to meet the challenge of this deadly disease. However, of much more important is ordering a study of the reasons for such rapid increase in the number of cancer patients in the State and the preventive measures, if any, to be publicly announced. Better and cheaper treatment of cancer patients in the hospitals where cancer treatment branches have been established need streamlining to make these worthy of performing the job assigned to it. The Government should constitute a committee of medical specialists to examine what further facilities can be and should be provided to the cancer patients under treatment in Government hospitals and health centres in the State. System of financial aid provided to deserving patients should be streamlined. It is not an obligation on patients but a duty for the Government.
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