Srinagar, May 30, KDC: Dr. Umer Majeed Khaja, a cancer biologist and research scientist at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), has urged the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to introduce a dedicated cancer care support scheme, highlighting the growing financial hardships faced by cancer patients and their families.
Dr. Khaja said that while healthcare institutions, oncologists, and medical professionals across the region continue to provide quality treatment and care, the high cost of cancer management remains beyond the reach of many families.
“Almost every day, families from various parts of Kashmir reach out seeking guidance after a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Along with the emotional trauma, they are confronted with treatment costs that can run into lakhs of rupees. In many cases, families are compelled to seek public donations through social media to continue life-saving treatment,” he said.
“On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, I felt compelled to write this appeal after receiving several calls from patients’ families. It is heartbreaking when families ask how they can arrange ₹30–40 lakhs for treatment. As a scientist, I could offer guidance and emotional support, but I had no answer to their financial distress,” he added.
Dr. Khaja emphasized that no patient or family should be forced to publicly seek financial assistance in order to access treatment. He called for the establishment of a dedicated cancer support fund or patient welfare scheme to provide financial protection for economically vulnerable patients.
Recent health data indicate a steadily rising cancer burden in Jammu & Kashmir, with nearly 38 new cancer cases being diagnosed every day across the Union Territory. Dr. Khaja said that cancer is increasingly emerging not only as a healthcare challenge but also as a serious socioeconomic concern affecting families emotionally and financially.
“Access to cancer treatment should not depend on a family’s ability to raise funds online. Every patient deserves affordable, accessible, and dignified care,” he told news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
Dr. Khaja, who is associated with leading international oncology organizations and has contributed to global cancer research initiatives addressing disparities in resource-limited settings, stressed the need for stronger patient support mechanisms alongside ongoing improvements in cancer care and research infrastructure.
He appealed to J&K administration, policymakers, healthcare institutions, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to work collectively towards ensuring that no cancer patient in Jammu & Kashmir is denied treatment because of financial constraints.
“Cancer patients deserve treatment with dignity, not desperation,” he said. (KDC)
