Lok Sabha Question No. 753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Death due to Tobacco Use
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH JULY, 2024

## 'DEATHS DUE TO TOBACCO USE'

## 753. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

## Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of adults who die each year due to tobacco use in the country;
- (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent its use across the country,
- (c) the details of the target set and achievements made so far in this regard;
- (d) whether the Government has planned to establish Tobacco Cessation Centres (TCC) in all medical institutions across the country;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the details of the amount of funds allocated for this along with the time by which these are likely to be established; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SMT ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (c) : As per the estimates given in the 2 nd round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) report (2016-17), mortality due to tobacco in India is estimated at upwards of 1.3 million.

For preventing tobacco use in the country, Government has framed a comprehensive legislation, namely the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) to regulate the use of tobacco products and to discourage the use of tobacco, with a view to improve public health in general as enshrined in Article 47 of the Constitution. The provisions under COTPA, 2003 and the Rules made thereunder prohibit smoking in public places; ban on sale of tobacco products to and by minors, sale of tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions; prohibition on direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products and mandatory display of specified health warnings on all tobacco product packs. The Ministry has also issued the 'Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institution' to all States/Union Territories for effective implementation of Section-6 of COTPA, 2003.

The Government launched National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in 2007- 08 to discourage the use of tobacco; create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption through regular and sustained public awareness campaigns as well as the establishment of National Tobacco Quitline to provide tobacco cessation services to reach out to tobacco users who are willing to quit tobacco use. As per second round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey [GATS] (201617), conducted among 15 year old and above, there has been 17.3 percent relative reduction in prevalence of tobacco use from 34.6% (GATS-1, 2009-10) to 28.6% (GATS-2, 2016-17).

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched a 60 days Tobacco Free Youth Campaign on the World No Tobacco Day, 2023. The campaign was successfully implemented from 31 st May to 31 st July, 2023 by all States and UTs to create intensive mass awareness on harmful effects of tobacco use, particularly amongst the youth and rural communities.

(d) to (g): Government has developed and published the Operational Guidelines for Establishing Tobacco Cessation Centres (TCC) in Medical Institutions planned to provide necessary guidance and assistance to individual seeking to overcome tobacco addiction; to empower medical professionals with knowledge to facilitate tobacco cessation; and To increase the tobacco cessation services across the country. National Medical Commission has issued directions to all medical institutions to establish TCCs.

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