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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 1 | Page : 94 |
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Ensuring tobacco control to strengthen the economy of a nation and improve the health standards of the population
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava, Prateek Saurabh Shrivastava, Jegaddesh Ramasamy
Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Submission | 11-Jan-2017 |
| Date of Acceptance | 16-Sep-2017 |
| Date of Web Publication | 07-Nov-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
Department of Community Medicine, 3rd Floor, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Ammapettai Village, Thiruporur, Guduvancherry Main Road, Sembakkam Post, Kancheepuram - 603 108, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_20_17
How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Ensuring tobacco control to strengthen the economy of a nation and improve the health standards of the population. Int J Prev Med 2017;8:94 |
How to cite this URL:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Ensuring tobacco control to strengthen the economy of a nation and improve the health standards of the population. Int J Prev Med [serial online] 2017 [cited 2021 Jun 23];8:94. Available from: https://www.ijpvmjournal.net/text.asp?2017/8/1/94/217826 |
Dear Editor,
Tobacco has been regarded as one of the most significant dependence-producing substances, predominantly due to the huge number of deaths associated with it.[1] In fact, the global estimates reflect that it kills more than 7 million people each year, of which more than 6 million are due to direct tobacco use, whereas 0.8 million deaths are due to second-hand smoke, respectively.[1] The issue has gained even more importance as four-fifths of the global smokers are from developing nations, which have limited or negligible provisions or steps to discourage the practice of adoption or even aid people in quitting tobacco.[1],[2] Further, even the mortality estimates are extremely high in such settings, and it is a major public health concern on an international scale.[2]
Moreover, the findings of a recently released report have reiterated the fact that by the implementation of policies to control tobacco use, considerable amount of revenues can be generated for health- or development-related activities.[3] At the same time, such measures will safeguard people's health from chronic illnesses, and thereby minimize sufferings, disabilities, and mortality.[1],[2],[3],[4] Furthermore, it has been estimated that in excess of US$ 1 trillion is lost each year, if we fail to address the challenges posed by the tobacco industries.[3] In addition, it would not be wrong to say that tobacco products not only account for the premature deaths of millions of people across the world but also leads to catastrophic expenditure for the management of their ailments.[2],[3],[4]
It is extremely important to understand that tobacco control is a crucial component to eventually contain the epidemic of a many noncommunicable diseases.[2],[4] In fact, the World Health Organization has developed a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which advocates for the attainment of the highest possible standard of health, and calls for international collaboration.[1] Under the framework, multiple interventions such as increasing the tax duty, imposing bans on marketing activities, displaying prominent pictorial health warnings, and launching smoke-free policies have been implemented successfully in heterogeneous settings.[1],[2],[3],[4] The need of the hour is to ensure that effective policy and program-related strategies are implemented in all settings to minimize the demand for tobacco products.[4]
To conclude, there is an immense need for collaborative efforts between different stakeholders to ensure progress in controlling the tobacco epidemic. This is not only essential from attaining better health standards of the population but also to prevent adverse impact on the economy of a nation.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | |
| 2. | Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Public health interventions to reduce the incidence of tobacco associated cancers. Int J Prev Med 2016;7:19.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
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