Chandigarh/New Delhi, March 11: Punjab recorded an average of 70 cancer-related deaths every day throughout 2025, marking the highest mortality rate in the region. According to data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, nearly 25,000 people in the state lost their lives to the disease last year, an increase from the 22,786 fatalities reported in 2021.
The figures provided by the ministry indicated that approximately 57.6% of those diagnosed with cancer in Punjab succumbed to the illness. The incidence of the disease has shown a consistent upward trend, with cases rising from 39,251 in 2021 to 43,196 in 2025. In comparison to regional neighbors, Haryana reported 18,387 cancer deaths during the same period, while Himachal Pradesh saw 5,328 fatalities.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare noted that environmental factors have been linked to these statistics. A recent review by the Indian Council of Medical Research provided a critical analysis connecting water contamination—specifically involving industrial waste, heavy metals, and pesticides—with colorectal and rectal cancers. Previous research from 2021 also identified breast cancer as the leading cause of death among women in the state, while lung and oesophagus cancers were the primary causes among men.
Addressing the infrastructure in high-burden areas, the ministry stated that the Tata Memorial Centre has established comprehensive care facilities in Sangrur and New Chandigarh. Furthermore, the central government has approved 297 Day Care Cancer Centres across the country to decentralize treatment. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh affirmed that Punjab now possesses two major cancer institutes with a total capacity of 450 beds. He maintained that these facilities have eliminated the need for patients to travel to Rajasthan for treatment, as the state now provides care for patients from neighboring regions as well.
