Calls for affordable treatment solutions
Says govt plans support for weaker sections
Inaugurates maternity block at SMGS Hospital
Jammu, Feb 04: 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.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister inaugurated the new maternity block at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital here.
Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi, Secretary Health & Medical Education Syed Abid Rasheed, Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited Tariq Hussain Ganai, Principal Government Medical College Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Administrator (Associated Hospitals), Jammu, R.K. Katoch, Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, Dr. Dara Singh, Head of Department, Pediatrics, Dr. Sanjiv Digra, Head of Department, Gynaecology, Dr. Robina Mirza, other senior officers of Health & Medical Education Department and officers of PWD, Mechanical Division & Electric Division.
The maternity block has been constructed at a project cost of ₹31.59 crore, with the Public Works (R&B) Department as the executing agency.
The multi-storey maternity block has been equipped with enhanced maternal and neonatal care facilities, including 50 beds on the ground floor with critical care and delivery services, a 24-bed OT complex on the first floor, and 84 beds each on the second and third floors.
The Chief Minister also inspected various units and wards of the new block and interacted with hospital staff to review the facilities available for patients.
The block, constructed with modern facilities including labour rooms, five Operation theatres (OTs), One Emergency Operation Theatre, NICU wards, recovery areas and other support services has been built to address the heavy patient load and improve delivery and newborn care capacity at the hospital.
The newly inaugurated maternity block, equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced medical facilities, is a major step towards strengthening maternal and child healthcare services in the Jammu region. The facility is expected to significantly reduce patient load and enhance the quality of care for mothers and newborns.
Medical Superintendents from Associated Hospitals, Doctors of other Departments, paramedical staff, and other officials were also present during the event.
