Cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality all across the world and the disease is showing rising trends and the number of new cases is going to increase with each passing year. Nearly 19.3 million cancer cases ( around 2 crore new cases) are diagnosed annually across the world (WHO data 2021).
The reported cancer incidence in India for the year 2023-24 is estimated to be 19 to 20 lakhs, whereas real incidence is 1.5 to 3 times higher than the reported cases. The number of Indians suffering from cancer is projected to increase to 29.
8 million in 2025 (ICMR New Delhi). The UT of J&K is not far behind and the trends in cancer cases run parallel to the trends else were in the country because of multiple factors. As reported earlier, over 51,000 cancer cases have been registered in J&K over the past four years (2019-2022).
Around 36,000 patients have died in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years after being diagnosed with cancer, and the number of such deaths in J&K is increasing (Greater Kashmir;18 January, 2023). Sensing the gravity of the situation MOH&FW GOI and NMC are contemplating to start Oncology services in all Medical Colleges across India (Medical Dialogue; 16 July,2023). India’s active National Cancer Control Programme was launched by the Government in 1975 and revised in 1984.
The main focus is primary prevention and early detection of cancer, which includes: The objectives of the programme are to be met by creating and developing Comprehensive Onco.
