Minister releases report on levels of tobacco use

The Financial Express Friday, November 26, 2004

The first ever comprehensive report on levels of tobacco use in India and its health, economic and environmental effects was released on Thursday by Union health and family welfare minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

The minister also unveiled a Tobacco Alert Clock in Nirman Bhavan, the building where the the health ministry is housed. The clock will display minute by minute update on the number of Indians dying on account of damage done by tobacco consumption. It will also display rotating health warmings on the harm caused by tobacco use as well as the benefits of avoiding or discontinuing its use.

The report ‘Tobacco Control in India’ edited by head of the cardiology department in Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Prof K Srinath Reddy and the director of Navi Mumbai-based Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Dr Prakash C Gupta has contributions from 41 experts in public health, economics, social science, law and environmental science.

The experts were drawn from academic institutions, professional groups, government departments and civil society organisations. US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided technical support through expert reviews. The report documents Indian experience in tobacco control vis-a-vis global evidences on works for controlling tobacco use. It suggests steps needed to be taken at various levels for achieving the objectives of tobacco control.