The Hindu : Task force for ban on tobacco use

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Task force for ban on tobacco use

By R. Vijaya Kumar

BANGALORE March 30. The Task Force on Health and Family Welfare chaired by H. Sudarshan has recommended a complete ban on tobacco consumption in the State.

Stressing that tobacco, either smoked or chewed, is responsible for causing as many as 25 diseases, including cancer, the report suggests a ban on tobacco cultivation, sale and promotion of tobacco products. It also strongly recommends curbing tobacco advertisements in the media, both print and electronic.

The 12-member task force has studied all aspects of tobacco consumption in the State and drawn up a blueprint for curbing tobacco consumption as it leads to chronic disabling diseases which reduces lifespan by as much as 15 years in long-term users.

The final report of the task force says that tobacco consumption has been increasing in the State. What is alarming is that more and more youngsters are smoking in urban areas, and chewing tobacco in rural areas.

The task force has also familiarised itself with studies made in this regard by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP).

Quoting a six-year prospective study made by the (ICMR), the task force report says that the money spent by government medical institutions on treating tobacco-related illnesses far exceeds the revenue accruing from taxation, excise, export earnings and other tobacco-related earnings. This figure is an underestimate as the costs borne by the affected person in the private sector have not been included. The ICMR study covered only illnesses that require hospitalisation. If the outpatient treatment is included, the costs will go up further.

According to a survey, one person dies of tobacco-related disease every eight minutes, and almost as quickly another becomes an addict. One million Indians die every year of tobacco-related illnesses which is more than the number of deaths due to road accidents, AIDS, and alcohol and drug abuse put together, according to a study conducted by the IMA and IAP.

In Karnataka, the special variety of Virginia tobacco has attracted farmers because of the high price. The Government is also encouraging its production as it brings in revenue.

The task force has made a special study on the risk faced by non-smokers exposed to "passive smoke" which is involuntarily inhaled from nearby smokers. Wives, children, co-workers and friends of smokers are in the high-risk group. They may develop irritating cough, sore throat, dizziness or headache. Exposure to passive smoke worsens pre-existing health problems of a non- smoker, such as allergies, asthma, and bronchitis and may even cause heart and lung disease. While 33 per cent of all cancer is caused by tobacco, about 50 per cent of cancers among men, and 25 per cent among women, are tobacco related.

The report has suggested a number of measures to curb tobacco use and abuse. Some of the strategies are: awareness education programmes in educational institutions and with community groups, particularly children and youth; health education, and tax increase on tobacco products; legal measures regarding direct and indirect advertising, sponsorship, sales restrictions; ban on smoking and spitting in public places; curbing of smuggling, and unregistered beedi production; decreased production of tobacco; and support for the international public health treaty called the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) initiated by the WHO.

The report also favours a ban on the sale of tobacco to minors and in the immediate vicinity of educational institutions.

It has criticised the Government for fixing a target for tobacco production and giving awards to farmers for bumper tobacco crops.

The report has also criticised the media for carrying huge, attractive advertisements for the promotion of tobacco products. It suggests moderation of such advertisements, and that the health warning should occupy at least 20 per cent of the advertisement space prominently.

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