Jammu, February 13, 2026 : More than 32,000 cancer cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, with nearly 79 per cent of the total cases recorded in the Kashmir Valley, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday.
Replying to an unstarred question by PDP legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para, the minister said that 25,621 cases were registered in the Kashmir division between 2022 and 2024, while 6,804 cases were reported from the Jammu division between 2023 and 2025.
According to data compiled by the Health and Medical Education Department, the Kashmir division recorded 8,021 cases in 2022, 8,621 in 2023, and 8,979 in 2024, showing a steady rise. In the Jammu division, 2,036 cases were reported in 2023, 2,187 in 2024, and 2,581 in 2025 — also reflecting an increasing trend.
The most commonly detected cancers include lung, breast, oral, cervical and prostate cancers. Gastro-intestinal malignancies such as cancers of the esophagus, stomach and colorectal region are also frequently reported.
Detailing the measures taken for prevention, early detection and treatment, the minister said that specialised institutions including the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College, Jammu, provide comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer care covering medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology and clinical haematology.
These institutions are equipped with advanced facilities such as PET-CT, CT scans, dedicated CT simulators and modern radiotherapy systems. Cancer patients are also managed at Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), associated hospitals, district hospitals and Community Health Centres, with referrals made to tertiary care institutions when required.
The minister said a PET scan facility is operational at SKIMS, Soura, and another unit costing Rs 16 crore is being procured for GMC Srinagar. In the private sector, PET scan services are available at Narayana Super Specialty Hospital, Kakryal (Katra), and the American Oncology Institute (ASCOM) in Jammu division.
She added that emphasis is being placed on public awareness regarding early warning signs of cancer and modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits, with the aim of strengthening prevention and early intervention.
