The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a directive to medical colleges nationwide to establish ‘tobacco cessation centres’ as part of a broader initiative to combat the adverse effects of tobacco use and promote public health.
This directive, outlined in a circular released by the NMC on Friday, aims to integrate specialised services for tobacco cessation into the healthcare and educational framework of medical institutions. The initiative is intended to strengthen healthcare infrastructure by providing dedicated resources and support for individuals seeking to quit tobacco use.
Key Points of the Initiative:
- Establishment of Centres: All hospitals affiliated with medical colleges are instructed to establish tobacco cessation centres. These centres can be managed by the Department of Psychiatry and/or other relevant departments.
- Expansion to Training Centres: These centres should also be set up in both rural and urban health centres adopted by medical colleges for training purposes.
- Dual Functionality: In addition to tobacco cessation, these centres will also function as drug de-addiction centres.
Public Health Impact
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in India (GATS 2) 2016-17, India has the second-largest number of tobacco users globally, with 268 million users, constituting 28.6% of all adults in the country. Alarmingly, tobacco-related diseases claim at least 1.2 million lives in India annually. Moreover, nearly 27% of all cancers in India are attributable to tobacco use.
Economic Burden
The total direct and indirect cost of diseases resulting from tobacco use is estimated at a staggering Rs 182,000 crore, which is nearly 1.8% of India’s GDP. Tobacco smokers are also at a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) and experiencing more severe forms of the disease.
By setting up tobacco cessation centres, the NMC hopes to address these public health challenges by providing the necessary resources and support for individuals to quit tobacco, thereby reducing the overall burden of tobacco-related diseases and improving public health outcomes.
