Govt readies anti-tobacco bill

KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The Ministry of Health and Population has completed drafting the Anti-Tobacco Bill that would prohibit smoking in public places.



“We’ve forwarded the draft bill to the cabinet,” said Dr Dirgha Singh Bam, secretary at the ministry. “But the passage of the bill could be delayed as various interest groups are creating hindrance.” [break]




Speaking at a function organized by Resource Center for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC) and Society of Health Concern Journalists, Dr Bam said the bigger pressure from the media is required to pass the draft because groups that are profiteering by selling tobacco would protest against the bill.



Santa Lal Mulmi, executive director of RECPHEC said multinational and domestic tobacco firms could create problems to delay the passage. People might even argue that smoking is one’s righ and some would argue that the national revenue collected from tobacco firms would decrease and economy would be affected, he said. Similarly, media organizations could try to prevent the bill arguing that they would lose advertisement revenues while others might protest over employment concerns.”



Beside the ban on public smoking, the proposed draft provides that tobacco products should be packed in such a way that they do not attract children.



Similarly, the anti-tobacco warning “smoking is injurious to health” should cover at least 30 percent of the packaging space. Similarly, the sellers should acquire permission to sell tobacco products. There will be complete ban on program sponsorship by tobacco firms.



Facts about tobacco consumption

• Nepalis spend about Rs 28 million in tobacco products


• Poor people in Nepal spend about 10 percent of their income in tobacco products


• About 50,000 people die worldwide each year due to tobacco consumption


• Estimated death in the world by 2030 – one million

Related story

‘BBA readies students for managerial roles and entrepreneurship...