By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 11, 2014: THE use of tobacco is a major risk factor for a number of Non-communicable Diseases.

There is no mechanism for routinely collecting such data on mortality and morbidity attributable to tobacco use. However, as per the ‘Report of Tobacco Control in India' (2004) the use of tobacco is responsible for causing 8-9 lakh deaths annually in India. Further, as per the study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2006 titled   “Assessment of Burden of Diseases due to Non-communicable Diseases” based on the analysis of published literature till 2004,  the risk of disease attributable to tobacco use was for stroke (78%), tuberculosis (65.6%), ischaemic heart disease (85.2%), acute myocardial infarction (52%), esophageal cancer (43%), oral cancer (38%) and lung cancer (16%) respectively.

Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) the following activities have been envisaged for the treatment of patients suffering from tobacco attributable diseases-

1. Opportunistic screening at all levels in the health care delivery system from sub-centre and above for early detection of cancers. Outreach camps are also envisaged.

2. Setting–up and strengthening Chemotherapy Centres at district hospitals.

3. Setting-up strengthening 20 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centers (TCCCs) for providing comprehensive cancer care in the country.

A number of steps have been taken by the Government in this regard, which include the following:

1. In 2003 The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibitions of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act,” (COTPA), was enacted in 2003 to regulate consumption, production, supply and distribution of tobacco products, by imposing restrictions on advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; prohibiting smoking in public places; prohibiting sale to and by minors, prohibiting sale within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions and through mandatory depiction of specified pictorial health warnings on all tobacco product packs.

2. Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08, with the aim to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementation of the provisions  under “The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003” (COTPA) and (iv) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.

The coverage of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has been up-scaled from existing 42 districts of 21 states to 53 districts of 29 states in 2013-2014.

3. National Level Public Awareness campaign is a key activity under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) which is aimed at educating people about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. A variety of media like electronic (Government and private Channels and FM/radio), outdoor billboards, bus panels, exterior train wrap-up, news-paper advertisement etc. have been used to reach a wide set of audience.

4. Health spots relating to harmful effects of tobacco use are also displayed by films  and TV Programmes displaying tobacco products or their use, as per the Rules notified under COTPA, 2003.

5. Gutkha and other similar food products containing nicotine and tobacco have    been prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1 st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The Health Minister was replying to a question in the Lok Sabha here today.