State tops south in tobacco-related diseases

KOCHI: Kerala has emerged as the leading state in South India in terms of economic costs caused by tobacco related diseases, according to a national survey held by Public Health Foundation of India. According to the survey Kerala spent Rs 545.5 cr for treating four major tobacco related diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, cardiac and respiratory ailments compared with Rs314.7 cr by Karnataka. Tamil Nadu spends only Rs467 cr in this regard.

The study called ‘Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India’ by the Public Health Foundation of India has estimated the economic costs on persons aged 35–69 in the year 2011 in the south Indian states. The study divided the economic costs in to two categories- direct medical costs and indirect morbidity costs comprising all tobacco-induced diseases and four specific diseases cardiovascular diseases, cancer, tuberculosis and respiratory disease.

Kerala also tops in terms of overall economic burden caused by tobacco related health problems. The economic cost in Kerala on all diseases is Rs1,513.7 cr as against Rs 983.1 cr in Karnataka and Rs1,171.3 cr in Tamil Nadu.