Mangaluru: The increasing number of cancer cases in Dakshina Kannada district is strengthening the demand for a super-specialty hospital in the govt sector. There has been a considerable increase in the incidence of oral, breast, cervical, and other cancers over the last three years.According to official statistics, the district reported 13,322 cancer cases, which include 9,211 patients from other districts in 2025-26. The district reported 605 oral cancer cases, 511 breast cancer cases, 226 cervical cancer cases, and 2,769 other cancers in the year. Additionally, the district received 935 oral cancer cases, 427 breast cancer cases, 313 cervical cancer cases, and 7,536 other cancer cases.In 2024-25, the district reported 367 oral cancer, 452 breast cancer, 104 cervical cancer and 488 other cancer cases. In 2023-24, the district recorded 255 oral cancer, 299 breast cancer, 92 cervical cancer and 399 other cancer cases.In fact, a demand to open satellite branches of the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru was discussed in the recently held Karnataka legislature session. However, the govt has not taken any concrete decision with regard to the demand.DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR told TOI that the district has been receiving a large number of cancer patients from neighbouring districts. He said that the department in the district has not received any communication with regard to the opening of the satellite branches of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru. A large number of cases referred from other districts also reach Mangaluru, he said.The DHO said that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive has picked up pace in the district. While the target for the HPV vaccine in Dakshina Kannada district is 22,473, nearly 2,000 girls, who have attained 14 years of age on Feb 28 and are less than 15 years old, have already been administered the vaccine as of Monday. Even in the midst of holidays and examinations, the health department and education department worked jointly to bring more children to the vaccination centres, he added.
