In a social media post, Parra said nearly 67,000 people have died of cancer in the last five years, a figure comparable to the total number of conflict-related deaths recorded over the past three decades. “Cancer is killing 300 times more people than conflict in J&K,” he said.
The Pulwama legislator said families, especially from economically weaker sections, are being forced to sell land and other assets to seek treatment outside the Union Territory due to limited facilities and overburdened hospitals. He said the lack of adequate cancer care infrastructure is pushing patients into financial distress and leading to avoidable deaths.
“The biggest battles are often the ones we don’t see,” Parra said, urging the government to address the crisis with urgency.
Tagging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Parra called on the administration to immediately strengthen cancer treatment facilities within Jammu and Kashmir to reduce the burden on patients and their families.
