‘Enforcing chewing tobacco ban can prevent 90% of oral cancers’

If the state government implements the apex court’s order that banned chewing tobacco being sold rampantly in twin packs, it can prevent 90% of oral cancers.

Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death. With alarming numbers of cancer patients, the Supreme Court on September 23, 2016 had imposed ban on sale of tobacco in twinpacks like gutka, tobacco, pan masala, khaini etc. There is no effective enforcement of this order.

Although, gutka has been banned in Rajasthan, vendors sell pan masala with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate packs together, so consumers can mix both and consume. This is leading to a steady rise in patients suffering from oral and throat cancer, said Sawai Man Singh hospital cancer surgeon Dr Pawan Singhal.

He said cancer accounts for more deaths worldwide than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. According to World Economic Forum (WEF) – “Cancer is among one of the three greatest risks to the global economy.” Tobacco use is the leading risk factor for cancer and about 1 in 5 deaths is caused by tobacco.

Dr Singhal said, that in Rajasthan, 62,000 deaths due to cancer take place, of which one-third is oral cancer. He said, “When we are aware what causes 90% of oral cancers and there has been an order to ban chewing tobacco products in twin packs, then what is stopping the enforcement?” National Tobacco Control Programme State Nodal officer, Dr SN Dholpuria said, “Tobacco is not banned separately and it is difficult to know if the vendor is selling tobacco and pan masala packets separately or as twin pack.”

JAIPUR: