Economic costs of tobacco use: Kerala surpasses neighbours

Kerala has emerged as a leader of sorts in South India with the huge economic burden it shoulders on account of tobacco use. God’s Own Country has left behind its tobacco cultivating neighbours – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, reveals the findings of a major recent national study conducted to estimate the economic dimensions of tobacco use.

The study supported by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation brings out that the economic resources lost in treating and managing four major tobacco-induced diseases is nearly 75 per cent more than Karnataka. While Kerala burns out Rs 545.4 crores, it is Rs 314.7 crores in Karnataka.

Monetary resources lost due to tobacco use in Tamil Nadu is nearly 17 per cent lesser than Kerala, at Rs 467 crores.

The report following the study called ‘Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India’ developed by the Public Health Foundation of India has estimated the economic costs on persons aged 35 – 69 in the year 2011. It has estimated both direct medical costs and indirect morbidity costs in two categories – all tobacco-induced diseases, and four specific diseases – cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); cancer, tuberculosis and respiratory disease.

Direct medical costs include direct healthcare expenditure for inpatient hospitalisation or outpatient visits such as medicines, diagnostic tests, bed charges and surgeon’s fees. Indirect costs accrue from expenses incurred on transportation and lodging charges for caregivers, loss of household income due to inpatient hospitalisation, besides costs from premature death. 

A similar pattern prevails with regard to economic burden of tobacco use from all diseases, with Kerala facing a greater pinch than Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The economic cost in Kerala on all diseases is Rs 1513.7 crores, as against Rs 983.1 crores in Karnataka and Rs 1171.3 crores in Tamil Nadu.

In line with consumption patterns, tobacco-induced costs are higher among Kerala males as compared to females. Among males, higher costs – both direct and indirect – accrue from smoking tobacco products as against smokeless tobacco products.

On four diseases specifically, tobacco use among Kerala males causes a loss of Rs 518.9 crores, which is nearly 90 per cent more than in Karnataka and 40 per cent more than in Tamil Nadu. Tobacco induced economic costs among Kerala females is Rs 26.4 crores.

Kerala’s saving grace is Andhra Pradesh, a major tobacco producing state in India, which leads with the highest economic burden due to tobacco use among southern states.

The study, among others, recommends prioritisation of tobacco control measures such as strengthening implementation of Indian tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003; uniform taxes on all tobacco products such as cigarettes and bidis; prohibition on sale and manufacture of all forms of smokeless tobacco products/chewing tobacco and high visibility public awareness campaigns to consistently reach different target audiences.

The Value Added Tax on cigarettes in Kerala is 22 per cent and bidis are not taxed at all.

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Thiruvananthapuram set to become first smoke-free district

By August 31, all government, public sector and private offices in the district are would become 'Smoke-free' as the district collector has issued directives as part of the drive to make the district the first district in the state to comply with the Indian Tobacco Control law - Cotpa. 

"Initially, directions were issued to ensure a smoke-free environment in all public places, government, public and private offices and establishments in the district by August 15. As some had sought more time to implement it, the deadline to ensure a smoke-free district was extended till 31st," district collector Biju Prabhakar told TOI. 

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting convened by the district collector with representatives of all major departments such as city and rural police, education, excise, local self government, corporation, food Safety, health, RCC, transport and railways on Tuesday. 

The directive states that all workplaces, government, public offices and private establishments in the district should ensure a smoke-free environment according to Section 4 of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (Cotpa). It has outlined the need to set up warning boards in bilingual template of no less than 60cmx30cm on display at workplaces and public places. 

"Enforcement of the drive to ensure a smoke-free public space in any government, public and private office or establishment will help reduce the menace, even if not 100% eradication. In a workplace or a hotel, smoking should not be permitted in a public space as it will affect others's health. A separate smoker's chamber or room should be there," Biju Prabhakar said. 

With Tobacco-free Kerala, making all workplaces smoke-free is critical to achieving the target of Kerala's first Cotpa compliant district and it will make the state capital a model in the public health arena, he added. 

After the enforcement drive against tobacco products and pan masala, it is almost banned in Kerala with the convergence of various departments including, excise and food safety, he said. 

Courtesy: Times of India

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Kozhikode district to say no to tobacco

The district administration, with the help of the Police Department and various voluntary organisations, is trying to make Kozhikode a tobacco-free district as per the Cigarettes and Other tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003.

District Collector C.A. Latha said in a press release that the district administration aimed at coordinating various departments and agencies for the purpose. The district would get a ‘public health friendly’ status in three months, she said.

The project was part of the government’s policy to protect the public, especially children, from tobacco and drugs. The Collector had convened a meeting of various departments and agencies on August 7 to discuss the project. The response was favourable, the release said.

The target would be achieved through awareness programmes and strict enforcement of the laws by the police and other agencies, with the help of various institutions and the media, the release said.

The district administration would monitor and evaluate the implementation of the project. The details would be made available on the official website,
Ms. Latha said.

Campaigns would be taken up to make people aware of the harm that tobacco could do. People’s representatives would take part in the project. The plan was to make it a model project for other districts and States to emulate, she said.

As per Section 4 of COTPA, smoking had been banned in public places. Advertising tobacco products in any manner was banned under Section 5. Section 6(a) banned the sale of tobacco products to anyone below 18 years of age.

The section also banned the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions. Section 7 spoke of mandatory health warnings on packets. All these would be enforced strictly, she said.

City Police Commissioner A.V. George and District Police Chief, Kozhikode rural, P.H. Ashraf said the police would cooperate wholeheartedly with the programme.

Police officers in the district had been trained and instructed in this regard. The programme was co-organised by ‘Tobacco Free Kerala.’

Source: The Hindu

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