Humane approach needed

The startling figures have come to the fore in the Legislative Assembly where the government has mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a shocking 10,000 cases of cancer in the year 2025. These figures are not mere medical statistics, but a humanitarian challenge. Behind every case lies a family struggling with fear, financial strain and uncertainty. At this juncture, the government’s response must go beyond acknowledgement and translate into tangible and compassionate support. Cancer treatment is expensive and often prolonged. Many patients are forced to travel repeatedly from remote districts to tertiary care centres, bearing heavy costs on transport, accommodation and medicines. The government must ensure that no patient is denied treatment due to financial hardship. Health insurance schemes should be expanded and simplified, with faster approvals and full coverage of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics and essential drugs. At the same time, the decentralisation of services is pivotal. Therefore, strengthening oncology units at district hospitals would reduce the burden on major institutions and ease the physical and emotional stress on patients. Dedicated cancer care cells with social workers and counsellors should be established to guide families through treatment options and government benefits. Timely financial aid and direct assistance programmes can prevent families from slipping into debt. The government must also partner with NGOs and charitable trusts to create patient support networks, including accommodation facilities near hospitals. Above all, empathy must guide policy. Regular review meetings, transparent data sharing and patient feedback mechanisms can improve service delivery. Cancer care is not only about curing disease but about preserving dignity. A responsive and humane government approach can make a decisive difference in the lives of thousands battling this illness.