Cancer docs applaud crackdown on cigarettes sold without health warnings

MUMBAI: Cancer physicians from Maharashtra have lauded the government and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for becoming the first state to crack down on tobacco products that were sold without 85% pictorial warning. In the first week of April, the drug regulatory department has seized cigarettes worth over Rs 300 crore.
A body of doctors under the umbrella of Maharashtra Cancer Warriors has commended chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for upholding the resolve to advance health policies for effective tobacco control."Mouth cancer is the commonest cancer in men in Maharashtra due to rampant chewing habit. Needless to say that the state loses 2000 crore every year due to tobacco related illnesses," said Satish Sonawane, co-ordinator, Maharashtra Cancer Warriors.
They doctors believe that the FDA's crackdown will certainly reduce the burden of cancer in few years from now. "Maharashtra was the first state to ban flavored chewing tobacco, flavored supari and e-cigarette. We are happy that the government is also contemplating banning chewing of tobacco in public place and ban on sale of lose cigarettes and bidis," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital.
The FDA is now working on prosecuting individuals and companies found in violation of the rules. "Such drives have to be followed up with enormous paper work so that the law can take its course," said a senior FDA official.