Cancer has emerged as a serious public health crisis in Punjab, claiming the lives of an average of eight women every day. Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal drew the attention of Parliament towards this alarming situation through a Special Mention during the first phase of the ongoing Budget Session.Referring to the latest data presented by the Union Ministry of Health in the Rajya Sabha, Seechewal informed the House that nearly 2,700 women were reported to have died due to cancer in Punjab during the year 2025 alone. This figure reflected an average of eight deaths every day.According to the same report, a total of 13,299 women lost their lives to cancer in the state between 2021 and 2025, underscoring the gravity of the situation.He further pointed out that breast cancer accounted for the highest number of fatalities, with 7,186 deaths recorded during this period. Cervical cancer followed with 3,502 deaths, while cancer of the uterus had claimed 2,611 women, he said. Seechewal said these statistics were not merely numbers but a stark warning sign for society and policymakers alike.Expressing deep concern, he noted that cancer cases were rising rapidly even among women aged between 50 and 56 years, indicating that the disease was no longer confined to old age. This trend, he said, reflected a broader environmental and public health failure that required urgent intervention.Highlighting the possible causes behind the growing cancer burden, the MP attributed a significant role to environmental pollution, particularly contaminated drinking water. He told the House that excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture was having a direct and harmful impact on human health. Citing past experiences, he recalled that hazardous chemicals such as DDT were banned only after their residues were found in mothers’ breast milk, exposing the long-term consequences of unchecked chemical use.Raising a strong demand before the Centre and the state government, Seechewal urged that a 100-per cent free cancer treatment should be ensured for women. He also called for providing at least 75 to 80 per cent subsidy for cancer treatment to economically weaker families, irrespective of whether the treatment is availed at government or private hospitals. He said cancer patients should receive special care, dignity and uniform treatment across all healthcare institutions.Concluding his intervention, Seechewal stressed that protecting women’s health should become a top priority for society, as women formed the foundation of families and communities. He asserted that the issue of rising cancer deaths among women was not just a health concern but a critical question linked to Punjab’s future generations and its very survival.
