Anantnag , May 20: The Radiation Oncology Department at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag has remained non-functional since its establishment in 2019 due to a lack of infrastructure and equipment, leaving thousands of cancer patients across South Kashmir without access to critical radiotherapy services.
The department, which serves patients from Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and parts of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region, currently operates out of a makeshift 10-bed ward on the second floor of a hospital block. The facility lacks essential features such as oxygen support, air conditioning and a functional elevator — making it grossly inadequate for addressing the region’s growing cancer burden.
More than 2,000 cancer patients are currently registered with the department. Medical experts estimate that 60 percent to 65 percent of cancer patients require radiotherapy at some point during their treatment. However, GMC Anantnag does not have a single radiotherapy machine and currently offers only chemotherapy services.
Patients requiring concurrent therapies are forced to travel daily to Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital or Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), a financially and physically taxing journey that often leads to treatment abandonment. “Most patients undergoing four to five weeks of radiotherapy, five days a week, cannot manage the financial and physical burden of traveling to Srinagar every day,” said a medic. “As a result, many abandon treatment altogether.”
Despite several proposals and a finalized Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the Roads and Buildings Department, no funds have been released under the CAPEX budget to initiate construction of a dedicated oncology block. “Even though land was identified behind the main blocks and the DPR was completed, the project has not moved forward due to lack of funding,” said an official.
Compounding the issue, the Jammu and Kashmir government is now planning to build a Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) near the proposed oncology site. Officials fear that once the MCCH is constructed, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board may not approve the site for radiation-related facilities due to safety regulations.
Dr Shahid Bashir Wani, head of the Radiation Oncology Department, said the team continues to receive a large number of cancer patients despite the absence of radiation services. “The proposal outlining equipment needs has been submitted under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), and approval is awaited from the central government,” Wani said. The proposal includes construction of a dedicated Radiation Oncology block and installation of advanced equipment, including a PET scan.
“We are hopeful that radiation therapy services will soon be available here,” Wani said. “But this will require a separate, fully equipped facility that meets all regulatory standards.” Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, principal of GMC Anantnag, said developing infrastructure for the oncology department remains a top priority. “We are committed to making oncology services accessible to the people of South Kashmir,” she said.
