Jammu, Feb 04 (KNO): Stressing that the underlying causes of Cancer must be assessed by medical professionals, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that cases are rising steadily in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion of the World Cancer Day, CM Omar, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “The state cancer institutes must function with adequate manpower and infrastructure.”
He called for strengthening oncology services across Jammu and Kashmir to ensure timely and effective treatment.
The Chief Minister outlined the government’s priority to address the issue of rise in cancer case in the region.
“There is no doubt that the incidence of cancer is increasing. What are the reasons behind this? Only doctors can tell us?” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government had three major responsibilities in dealing with the growing burden of cancer. “One is to fund research and development and create proper infrastructure for it. Second is to improve the healthcare system. Our state cancer institutes should function properly, have adequate infrastructure, and doctors should be able to work effectively,” he said.
He said access to cancer treatment remained a major challenge for economically weaker sections due to the high cost of medicines.
“For our financially weaker sections, getting cancer treatment is very difficult because medicines are very expensive. We have thought about a special package for them, which will be announced later,” he said.
QUESTIONS CONTINUING PRESENCE OF TERRORISTS IN UT
Referring to terrorism, the Chief Minister questioned the continuing presence of terrorists in the Union Territory, saying incidents of terrorism were still taking place.
Reacting to the killing of two terrorists in an encounter in Udhampur district, CM Omar said security forces have neutralised the terrorists but several questions remain unanswered. “They were killed, but where did they come from? How did they reach Udhampur? Since when were they there, and how long will this continue? We were told that after 2019 this movement would stop, but now it is 2026 and it has not stopped,” he said.
CM Omar said that such incidents were now being reported from areas that had remained free from terrorism earlier.
“These incidents are now happening in areas which were completely free of terrorism before 2014-15. We need answers to these questions,” he said—(KNO)