Tobacco alternatives needed to mitigate health risks

Hyderabad: The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data has revealed that in States like Telangana, 22.3 per cent of men aged 15 and above are using tobacco. Experts have recommended scientifically proven alternatives to traditional cigarettes in order to potentially reduce the health consequences associated with tobacco use.

Dr P Shashikala Palkonda, former Dean and Professor of Microbiology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, indicating the gravity of this situation, said: “In Telangana, 22.3 per cent of men aged 15 years and above use tobacco, highlighting a significant public health issue. With nearly 267 million adults using tobacco in India, revising tobacco cessation policies to include effective alternatives is imperative. These alternatives should be available only for serious smokers, providing scientifically proven options for those committed to quitting. By integrating successful strategies from Japan, Sweden, the UK, and the USA, and consulting experts, we can introduce safer alternatives like HTPs to effectively combat addiction.”

Adding to this, Dr Mohsin Wali, Padma Shri Awardee said, “For instance, alternatives like the scientifically proven safer novel tobacco products - heated tobacco products (HTPs), which is used in over 80 countries around the world, have shown promise in reducing harm while aiding in smoking cessation. It is high time that Indian’s should consider these scientifically backed alternatives to safeguard public health.”