SRINAGAR: In response to the escalating number of cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir, MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami, has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to expedite the clearance of pending applications under the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for the Poor (CTMFFP). The legislator’s plea highlights the dire situation facing underprivileged patients as financial assistance under the scheme has been halted since July 2024.
“Amidst the ballooning number of cancer cases in J&K, the financial assistance provided to patients under the CTMFFP scheme has been suspended, leaving poor patients struggling to afford treatment,” Tarigami said in a statement. He urged the government to prioritise healthcare funding, resolve bureaucratic hurdles, and allocate sufficient resources to help patients battling this life-threatening illness.
The CTMFFP, which supplements the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF), has been a critical lifeline for poor cancer patients in the region. Under HMCPF, up to Rs 15 lakh financial aid is made available for eligible patients through Regional Cancer Centres and government hospitals. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, disbursements have dwindled drastically. Records reveal that 88 patients received Rs. 430.10 lakh in 2019–20, but only three patients were assisted with Rs 31 lakh in 2021–22, with no support recorded in 2022–23.
Adding to the fund’s corpus, the Jammu and Kashmir government had earlier issued a directive for government employees to contribute a nominal amount from their salaries. Major hospitals in the region have also set aside funds specifically for cancer treatment. Despite these measures, the suspension of financial aid has left families already burdened by the costs of cancer care in an increasingly precarious position.
Tarigami’s call underscores the urgent need for a robust and sustainable approach to healthcare funding. As cancer cases continue to rise, the need for timely intervention to resume financial assistance has never been greater, offering hope for countless patients who depend on these schemes for their survival.
