Doctors,health experts hail ban,say was overdue

The GCRI treated almost 2.5 lakh outdoor follow-up patients and more than 25,000 new patients between 2010-2011,and over 38,000 patients underwent chemotherapy treatment at the institute,with nearly 16,000 major and minor surgeries conducted,according to its latest annual report.

According to Dr Shukla,in an estimated 50%-60% of cancer cases in Gujarat,the affliction is caused by tobacco use and gutkha is likely responsible for 30% to 40% of all cancer cases.

“The ban is especially welcome because young people are the main consumers of gutkha. It causes cancer in five to six years,so the effects of this ban will be clearly visible within a decade,” he added.

Dr S S Alurkar,a oncologist at Apollo Hospitals in Ahmedabad,said,“It is a good thing if done sincerely,and reducing consumption even by just 15% -20% would be a remarkable achievement. Eight out of 10 cancer patients we treat at Apollo consume such tobacco products,irrespective of education or socio-economic background.”

“The health department has been rallying for a gutkha ban and we feel very encouraged that the chief minister has taken cognisance of the urgent need to protect people from dangerous effects of tobacco use. Over 21% of adults in Gujarat use smokeless tobacco,” Dr Paresh Dave,additional director (public health) and nodal officer of State Tobacco Control Cell,said in a statement.

“We hope the decision will be implemented in letter and spirit by enforcement agencies,” said Dr Monika Arora,head of health promotion and tobacco control at the Public Health Foundation of India,a semi-government body that is campaigning for anti-tobacco policy in various states,and which is currently working with the Gujarat government for anti-tobacco curriculum in schools.

“As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey,2009-10 India Report,29.4 % adults in Gujarat use tobacco in one form or the other. Smokeless tobacco use is more prevalent in the state with 18.4 % of the adult population using smokeless tobacco products while 7.8% use smoking forms. About 46.2% males and 11.3% females are current tobacco users,” a PHFI statement added.

IIM-Ahmedabad’s Professor Dileep Mavalankar,who is currently on a long leave to head the Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar,said,“The government’s decision reflects its strong commitment to safeguarding the health of people of Gujarat. The onus of taking this crucial public health measure forward lies on our enforcement machinery. It is only by curbing both easy access and underhand sale of gutkha that people can truly be protected from the dangers of tobacco.”