Seechewal urged both the Centre and the Punjab government to ensure completely free cancer treatment for women.
2,700 Women Died of Cancer in Punjab in 2025, MP Seechewal Raises Issue in Rajya Sabha
Cancer has become a major public health concern in Punjab, with an average of eight women dying from the disease every day. Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal raised this issue in Parliament through a Special Mention during the first phase of the ongoing Budget Session.
Referring to data shared by the Union Ministry of Health in the Rajya Sabha, Seechewal stated that around 2,700 women died of cancer in Punjab in 2025 alone, which works out to roughly eight deaths per day. He further said that between 2021 and 2025, as many as 13,299 women in the state lost their lives to cancer, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
He pointed out that breast cancer caused the highest number of deaths, with 7,186 fatalities reported during this period. Cervical cancer led to 3,502 deaths, while uterine cancer claimed 2,611 lives. Seechewal said these figures should serve as a warning for both society and policymakers.
Expressing concern, he noted that cases were increasing even among women aged 50 to 56 years, showing that cancer was not limited to old age. He linked the rising cases to environmental pollution, especially contaminated drinking water and excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Seechewal urged both the Centre and the Punjab government to ensure completely free cancer treatment for women. He also demanded a 75–80 per cent subsidy for economically weaker families, regardless of whether they seek care in government or private hospitals. He emphasised that cancer patients must be treated with dignity and receive equal care across all medical institutions. He concluded that safeguarding women’s health is essential, calling the rising deaths a serious threat to Punjab’s future and coming generations.
Source: The Tribune
