Bhubaneswar, Feb. 6: Anti-tobacco activists in the city have voiced their concern over the Indian tobacco manufacturers allowing only 20 per cent space for health warning against use of tobacco products.
While Australia is in the forefront with mandatory display of serious health warning signs with pictorial descriptions of the cancer-affected patients covering 80 per cent space of the pack, India is almost at the bottom. Pakistan is well ahead, devoting 40 per cent space on the pack to health hazard warning.
In fact, almost all nations have directed their cigarette manufacturers to stick to plain packaging so that the health warnings and not the brand names will be prominent. However, in India it is just the opposite, said activists.
At a meet attended by public health analysts, social service organisations, youth organisations and politicians, Lok Sabha member Baijayant Panda urged stakeholders to fight for this cause, as the nation was burdened with a health-care bill of around Rs 35,000 crore every year because of tobacco-related cancer.
The meet was jointly organised by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Health Related Information Dissemination Among Youth.
Panda has proposed a private members bill in Parliament, which seeks plain packaging of tobacco products in India by making amendments to the current Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. He said while the law allows a minimum 40 per cent space for health warning. But, cigarette manufacturers are using only 40 per cent space on the front while there is no warning on the back. Thus, covering only 20 per cent of the space.
“Plain packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products is essential to reduce the appeal of tobacco use, especially among youngsters,’’ he said. PHFI president K. Srinath Reddy said: “The attractive packaging and aggressive marketing by tobacco manufacturers attracts youngsters to the product. However, by introducing plain packaging with bigger warning signs, we can lessen the use of tobacco.’’
On the other hand, more people chew gutka Odisha. This is the single largest cause of cancer in the state.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, more than 43 per cent of the population uses chewable tobacco in some form or the other.
“Over 10,000 new oral cancer patients are admitted to the hospitals every year in Odisha,’’ said Itishree Kanungo of the Voluntary Health Association of India.