October 06 (Citizen.lk News) - Around 100 new cancer patients are being diagnosed in Sri Lanka every day, amounting to nearly 35,000 cases annually, it was revealed.
According to Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, oral cancer remains the most commonly detected form in the country.
He further pointed out that cancer treatment places a heavy burden on the health sector, with nearly 30 percent of total drug expenditure allocated to cancer medicines.
“Although the number of cancer drugs is comparatively small, their costs are extremely high,” he noted.
Dr. Jayatissa also drew attention to the wider threat posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for most deaths among Sri Lankans aged 30 to 70.
As such, he urged the public to focus on prevention, early detection, and lifestyle changes to address the rising incidence of cancer and other NCDs.
