Bengaluru: Though the Union government had issued a notification on October 15, 2014, making it mandatory for tobacco companies to display graphic health warning occupying 85% of the principal display area of all tobacco packets, it is yet to come into force.
State Health Minister U.T. Khader, in his letter to the Union Health Minister, appreciated the Union government for the steps taken to battle the tobacco menace, but has demanded that the government should not go back on its decision on the pictorial warnings that are displayed on the cigarette packs and other tobacco products.
“Recently, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (CoSL) presented a conflicting report recommending 50% pictorial warnings on both sides of cigarettes packets. Health experts feel that 50% warnings is not at all enough as various studies have proved that larger warning on tobacco products does curb people from getting addicted to such products," said Dr Upendra Bhojani.
Dr U.S. Vishal Rao, renowned oncologist and a member of the Karnataka High Powered Committee on Tobacco Control, said he attended the COSL meeting to convey that consumer awareness is a right to health.
“The government should be committed to reducing advertising by tobacco companies, which lure consumers. It should pave way for consumer awareness on harmful effects of tobacco consumption through increased pictorial warning,” he said.
Dr Banu Prakash, neurosurgeon and a member of the Lok Satta, said that it is a compromised report and the central government should not consider it.
“The proposal to display such warning on only one side of beedi and smokeless tobacco packets, which are causing greater risks to Indian masses, is another worry and is like subsidising death for the poor," he said.
Health expert Dr Upendra Bhojani from the Institute of Public Health said the simple step by the central government of sticking to 85 % health warning on tobacco products, if taken before this April, can save millions of lives in the country.
“Beedi baron and MP Shyam Charan Gupta being a member of the CoSL itself is a conflict of interest and renders this report biased. The compromise with the tobacco industry influence obvious," he said.
Health experts, who had gathered to address a press conference in the city on Saturday, said that various organisations across the country, including the Association of Physicians of India, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Cardiological Society of India, the Commonwealth Medical Association Trust and the Public Health Foundation of India, as a part of the Doctors For Tobacco Control in India forum, have sent letters to the Union health ministry in this regard.
