Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, today informed that the central government has sanctioned 2 new State cancer institute’s for the state at the cost of Rs 120 crore each.Replying to a question of Firdous Ahmad Tak, the Minister said that 2 Cancer Institute’s will come up at Government Medical College, Jammu and SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar. He said, besides this, three tertiary cancer care centers are also being sanctioned by Union Government for establishment in the identified districts at Kupwara, Kishtwar and Udhampur.Mr. Bali Bhagat informed that there has been an increase in the number of cancer patients in the state and a number of initiatives have been taken to augment the Medicare facilities for them. About 6358 cases of cancer were reported in 2015, 5568 in 2014, 5068 in 2013, 4848 in 2012 and 4556 in 2011, he added.Bali Bhagat informed that Lung Cancer has become most prominent in the state as the prevalence of the smoking has gone up. He said Lung, throat, Gastro-internal and Lymphoma cancers are predominant in males while cervical, Breast, throat, Gastro –Internal and lung cancers are predominant in females.