Amend tobacco control act, save lives

The tobacco business groups always consider their profit. But a larger sum of money is being spent on the treatment of tobacco-related diseases than the revenue the government earns from this sector.

— Dr ABM Abdullah Personal physician of PM

The government should amend the tobacco control act as soon as possible to reduce premature deaths linked to the consumption of tobacco products, Prof Dr ABM Abdullah, personal physician of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said at a roundtable yesterday.

He made the remarks at "The Current Status of Tobacco Control Act and Tasks to Do", jointly organised by Bangladesh Health Reporters' Forum and the National Heart Foundation at the health directorate headquarters in the capital's Mohakhali.

"There is no benefit to using tobacco. Rather, it causes different types of disease, which kill around 450 people every day in the country. So, the act needs to be amended," said Abdullah, who is also a University Grant Commission professor.

Tax should be increased on tobacco products. If the tax amount is doubled, around Tk 8-10 crore collected as taxes can be added to the health sector budget.

— Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir Additional DG at health directorate

Stressing the necessity to prevent smoking, Abdullah directed the authorities to pass an act to "ban" tobacco products, such as jarda and gul.

The tobacco business groups always consider their profit, said the professor. "But a larger sum of money is being spent on the treatment of tobacco-related diseases than the revenue the government earns from this sector," he added.

Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of health directorate, highlighted the health impact of tobacco.

"A smoker needs to quit smoking for at least a week before any surgery as the use of anaesthesia risks their lives. However, we do not have any choice in case of emergency surgeries," he said.

Emphasising the importance of mass awareness in this regard, he proposed integrating the message into government campaigns and advertisements.

Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir, additional director general (planning and development) at the health directorate, proposed increased taxation on tobacco products.

"If the tax amount is doubled, around Tk 8-10 crore collected as taxes can be added to the health sector budget," he said.

Prof Sohel Reza Chowdhury, head of epidemiology and research division at National Heart Foundation and Research Institute, presented a keynote at the event.

In his keynote, he stated that tobacco kills 1.61 lakh people in the country every year, which is around 19 percent of all deaths.

"Tobacco consumption, in most cases, leads to cardiovascular diseases," he said.

He also explained the necessity for a stricter amendment of different sections of the existing Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005, amended in 2013.

Smoking is now prohibited in selected public places and on public transport. A ban on the advertisement of tobacco products was also imposed, and a mandate was issued to ensure health warnings on product packages.

Moderated by Rashed Rabbi, president of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, health reporters from different media houses attended the event.