In a shocking development, the Government is set to further delay the notified “Mouth Cancer” picture scheduled to appear on all tobacco products from December 1, 2010. As per latest available reports from the Health Ministry and the media, which has led to anger and serious disappointment among tobacco control activists and health professionals, the Health Ministry is likely to approach the Cabinet to water down pack warnings rules by proposing “rotation of warnings every two years”, instead of the mandated 12 months. Further, the Ministry is also planning to drop the current notified, warning which is evidence-based and field-tested by replacing it with a “less gory” alternate picture to be developed by DAVP.
Civil society organizations across the country have expressed shock and disbelief over this development. More than 4000 representations comprising of concerned individuals, Members of Parliament, youth leaders, women’s groups, cancer patients, medical professionals, heads of educational institutions child rights groups, media houses, have been sent to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Health Minister and the Finance Minister, besides Sonia Gandhi, strongly advocating & supporting the stronger/new pictorial warnings to be implemented on all tobacco packs from December 1st 2010.
A compilation of 7,800 signatures and 5,300 opinion polls in support of effective pictorial warnings, collected till date during the “Pictures Save Lives – Choose and Save Millions” campaign oriented exhibition launched on Children’s Day by youth health advocates from HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) and Public Health Foundation of India, has been sent to Prime Minister, Health Minister and the Ministry of Health as well as the Finance Minister. In the last two weeks, the campaign has been showcasing strong and effective pictorial health warnings from countries across the world as compared to the weak and ineffective pictorial health warnings displayed on tobacco product packages in India. Through the opinion polls, 82% Indians have clearly indicated that the warnings showing mouth cancer that is to appear from December 1, 2010 on all Indian tobacco product packages is most effective, while existing warnings do not communicate anything to the consumer. (For online opinion poll, please see: www.facebook.com/youthforhealth)
According to Alok Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, VHAI, “It is a matter of great shame that on one hand, the Health Minister gives a clear assurance on the implementation on the floor of the Parliament, while on the other hand, stabs public health concerns in the back to boost the coffers of the tobacco industry.”
It is a matter of serious concern that each time the date of implementation draws near, a GoM is constituted (some of those with vested interests in the issue) and the warnings get either delayed or diluted. It is to be noted that currently, the pack warning case is pending in the Hon’able Supreme Court of India.
The issue of repeated deferment of pictorial warnings is also creating concern in the power lobbies of the country. Smt Kanimozi, MP has put a pertinent question to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the ongoing Rajya Sabha session on what are the technical issues involved in the implementation of the new pictorial warnings.
In reply to the question raised by the MP, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad stated that the revised, stronger pictorial warnings will be affected from December 1st 2010.
“At this crucial juncture, while the decision for pictorial health warnings is being made by the policymakers we want them to recognize, register and respond to the clearly expressed views of Indian citizens that they want to be better informed about the ill-effects of tobacco use. This is a priority, given that empirical evidence in favour of strong pictorial health warnings in India is mounting,”said Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India and Hony. Executive Director, HRIDAY.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India Report 2010 released recently by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare estimates that currently 5.7% adults smoke cigarettes. As per the report, health warnings should cover at least 50% of front and back of the tobacco packages.
“Tobacco is a huge public health menace and has and will continue to impose tremendous costs and disease and death burden on India. Stronger political commitment and leadership for regulation of packaging and labelling of tobacco products is of urgent need population services international urges the government of india to decide fast and approve the proposed warning symbol without further postponement,” said Shankar Narayan, Regional Director (south india), Population Services International
The latest International Status Report on the Cigarette Package Health Warnings released during the WHO’s FCTC meeting in Uruguay reveals that India ranks low among the 175 countries surveyed on warning size and fulfilment of requirements for picture – based warnings on all tobacco products and significantly trailing behind our neighbouring country Pakistan which ranks 46!
“The government has failed in its duty to protect the health of the citizens by vacillating on the issue of effective tobacco pack warnings. If it further postpones the issue beyond December 1 then it would be very clear that the government is compelled by considerations other than its duties to its citizens to unduly favour tobacco companies” said Dr. Surendra Shastri - HOD Preventive Oncology – Tata Memorial Hospital and Chairperson of the SFM Campaign
“The new pictorial warnings must come into effect on Dec.1st 2010 as promised by the Minister on several occasions. India has been ranked 100 in terms of implementation of pack warnings and if these are postponed further, it will be a great disservice to public health”, said Dr. P.C. Gupta, Director, Healis – Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health.
WHY PICTORIAL HEALTH WARNINGS ON TOBACCO PACKAGES
Pictorial warnings on tobacco products are intended to increase consumer knowledge of the deadly health effects of tobacco consumption, to encourage cessation and to discourage uptake. In India they also break the linguistic and cultural barrier, in addition to informing the illiterate population (a large proportion of this segment smokes bidis) about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Pictorial warnings are an effective tool internationally to combat tobacco addiction. Around 17 countries including Brazil, Australia, Canada, Chile, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Uruguay, Venezuela and a number of other developed nations have successfully introduced picture-based warnings and many of them have gorier images on the packs.
About Smokefree Mumbai campaign:
The Smokefree Mumbai campaign was launched on February 20, 2009 by the Action Council against Tobacco-India (ACT-India) along with partners, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (M.C.G.M), Tata Memorial Hospital, Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Cancer Patients Aid Association, V-CARE, Tata Steel (Wires Division), Tata Chemicals Limited, AHAR & Americares, to ensure the implementation of the national legislation passed on October 2, 2008 for smoke-free public places. The key objectives of the campaign are to ensure compliance with the existing national law, monitor violations and mobilize support from stakeholders, i.e., policy makers, organizations and civil society. For further details on the campaign, visit www.smokefreemumbai.org
