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Release of the
comprehensive report on ‘Tobacco
Control in India’
The Govt. of India, in collaboration with WHO and CDC,
released a comprehensive report on ‘TobaccoControl in India’.
This report is a collation of the Indian experience on tobacco control and
provides directions for future action in the area of tobacco control. The
Executive Summary of this report was later released in order to make
available a more concise version of the report for mass dissemination to
policy makers and other key stakeholders.
Union Minister of
Health & Family Welfare and WHO Representative
to India releasing the report “Tobacco Control in
India” in Delhi
The
Honorable Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, released ‘Tobacco
Control in India’, a comprehensive report on: the levels of tobacco use
in India; its health, economic and environmental effects; the Indian
experience so far on tobacco control; Indian and global evidence on what
works for controlling tobacco use; the steps that need to be taken at various
levels for achieving the objectives of tobacco control and a road map
for resource mobilization and national coordination to support a National Progamme for Tobacco Control.
The report was commissioned by
the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is compiled by Prof. K. Srinath Reddy (Professor and Head, Department of
Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) and Dr. Prakash C. Gupta (Director, Healis
Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Navi Mumbai, and Former Honorary Consultant, Tata
Memorial Centre, Mumbai), with contributions from 41 authors who include
experts in public health, economics, social sciences, law and environmental
sciences. They have been drawn from academic institutions, professional
groups, government departments and civil society organizations and reflect
their vast experience in areas related to tobacco control. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of USA, provided technical support
through expert reviews.
The report was released by the
Honorable Minister at a function held at PHD House, Siri
Institutional Area, Lakshmipat Singhania
Auditorium, Khelgaon
Road, New Delhi
on 25 November 2004. The Minister also unveiled a Tobacco Alert Clock, on that
occasion. The clock, which will be displayed at Nirman
Bhawan, provides a minute by minute update on the
number of Indians dying from tobacco. It also displays rotating health
warnings on the harm caused by tobacco use as well as the benefits of avoiding
or stopping its use.
Speaking about the report,Dr.
Anubumani Ramadoss, theUnion Health Minister,
said that the government of India
has enacted an important social legislation relating to Tobacco Control last
year. However, legislation itself is not enough. There is a need to increase
awareness among the masses about these issues of tobacco use/ control
constantly in order to achieve desired results. The media has an important
role to play. The members of civil society also need to contribute to these
efforts in achieving a tobacco free society. He reiterated the Government’s
resolve to effectively implement the legal provisions for tobacco control.
Mr. J. V. R. Prasada Rao, TheHealth Secretary, said that tobacco use is a serious public
health challenge in several regions of the world. It has assumed the
dimension of an epidemic resulting in enormous disability, disease and death.
It is estimated that five million preventable deaths occur every year
globally, attributable to tobacco use. At this rate, the number of such
deaths is expected to double by 2020. In addition to damage to personal
health, tobacco use results in severe societal costs like reduced
productivity and health care burden, environmental damage and poverty of the
families. The degree of destruction brought to bear upon the individual and
society surpasses the returns generated by tobacco production and consumption
in terms of revenue and employment.
Dr S. J. Habayeb, WHO
Representative to India,
said “WHO congratulates the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for
achieving historic milestones in its efforts for curbing tobacco use in India, including the release of the
comprehensive report on “Tobacco Control in India”. This report provides
directions, which will have a profound impact not only on the health of the
Indian people, but will also set a public health example at the global
level”.
Dr. Altaf
Ahmed Lal from the Health & Human Services Department, Government of USA,
said that"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is
pleased to be part of the event of the release of the report "Tobacco
Control in India".
With the release of its first report, the Indian Government is demonstrating
bold leadership in tobacco control. Today's report amounts to a
momentous public health milestone for all of India and her citizens. The
challenge will be to utilize India's
extensive scientific network to translate the report's recommendations into
practice".
Prof. K. Srinath
Reddy, Prof. & Head of Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, said that
“As India vigorously pursues the path of development, it must learn to
effectively deal with the threat of tobacco which has devastating effects on
health, economy and the environment. This report provides a road map
for multi-sectoral action to control tobacco.
We now need a National Commission for Tobacco Control to put this plan into
action and coordinate efforts across all sectors of society”.
Dr. Prakash
C. Gupta, Director, Healis Sekhsaria
Institute of Public Health, who co-edited the report, said that "Tobacco
problem in India
is enormous. Tobacco is used in a wide variety of ways and there are
estimated 250 million tobacco users in the country. This leads to a
large number of premature deaths (over 800,000), about 550,000 occurring
below the age of 70 years."
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 Full Report
Executive Summary
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