On World No Tobacco Day, specialists and global health advocates are urging India to adopt innovative tobacco harm reduction strategies to tackle one of the gravest public health threats facing the nation. With tobacco consumption remaining persistently high, experts emphasize the urgent need for progressive policies to curb its detrimental effects.
India, despite its ascent as a global economic player, grapples with staggering statistics: 27% of the population aged 15 and above are tobacco users, with over 120 million adult smokers. The economic toll is equally concerning, with tobacco-related diseases costing the country almost 1% of its GDP annually.Members of the Global Sustainability Alliance’s (GSA) Leadership Council for Good Health and Well-being are at the forefront of this call for action. They stress that innovative harm reduction strategies have the potential to save 1.35 million lives every year.
Dr. Bharat Gopal of Delhi Heart and Lung Institute highlights the devastating impact of tobacco use, advocating for evidence-based policies akin to successful models in the UK, Sweden, and Japan.Prof. Dr. R Zimlichman of Tel Aviv University emphasizes the global success of progressive tobacco policies, while Dr. Karan Thakur of Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, underscores the importance of scientific approaches to reduce tobacco-induced diseases like cancer.