In 7 yrs, over 26k cancer patients in Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 23

The Health Department today disclosed that over 26,000 cancer patients were reported in the Kashmir valley during the past seven years.

It said the incidence of cancer was on rise in the state, especially in the Kashmir valley, and efforts were being made by the government to help the needy cancer patients living below the poverty line.

“A total of 26,214 patients suffering from the deadly cancer disease have been reported in Kashmir since 2011,” Bali Bhagat, Minister for Health and Medical Education, said in a written reply to a question of NC legislator Mubarak Gul.

The minister said the installation of a linear accelerator with an estimated cost of Rs 15.50 crore, including civil works, was under progress at the Radiation Oncology Department of SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, which would be made functional by June 2018.

“The PET-CT facility has been made operational from January 1 this year and so far, 20 procedures have been done with effect from January 15,” he said.