SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a steady rise in cancer incidence over the past three years, with official data presented in the Rajya Sabha showing that the Union Territory registered an estimated 14,112 cases in 2024. The figures were disclosed by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in response to a question from Neeraj Shekhar, who sought State-wise details of the country’s cancer burden and the steps taken by the Government to strengthen prevention and treatment.
The latest estimates, compiled by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Cancer Registry Programme, place Jammu and Kashmir among the regions with a consistently high annual caseload. The UT reported 13,395 cases in 2022 and 13,744 in 2023, marking a year-on-year rise driven largely by lifestyle diseases, late diagnosis patterns, and demographic shifts. Ladakh, tracked separately after its bifurcation, reported 318 cases in 2024. In 2024, Jammu and Kashmir reported 14112 cases.
When viewed against the national scene, India recorded a total estimated cancer incidence of 15.33 lakh cases in 2024. The highest caseloads were reported from Uttar Pradesh (2.21 lakh), Maharashtra (1.27 lakh), Bihar (1.15 lakh), and Tamil Nadu (98,386). In this national table, Jammu and Kashmir stands at around the twenty-second position among States and Union Territories by overall cancer incidence, but its numbers are significantly higher than other Himalayan or smaller-population regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the North-eastern States.
The Government has said it is supporting States and Union Territories through a nationwide framework under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. According to the Health Ministry, 770 district hospitals and 6,410 community health centres now host NCD clinics, and 364 district day-care chemotherapy centres have been established across the country. Jammu and Kashmir is among the beneficiaries of this support, with cancer treatment provided free or at subsidised rates in Government hospitals.
At the national level, 19 State Cancer Institute’s and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres have been sanctioned, alongside facilities in all 22 new AIIMS. The National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar and the second campus of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata serve as apex institutions for advanced cancer care. Drug affordability initiatives through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT pharmacies have also been highlighted by the Government as key measures to reduce the cost burden on patients.
Responding to questions on vaccines and research, the Government said no cancer-curing vaccine is part of the Universal Immunisation Programme and clarified that its research focus, led by ICMR, remains on diagnostics, therapeutics, and deeper understanding of cancer biology. Officials said the growing number of cases underscores the need for stronger preventive measures at the primary care level, including sustained public awareness, early screening, and promotion of healthy living.
