THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Sept 19:
The Centre is mulling to tighten laws to check consumption of tobacco products as part of the fight against incidence of cancer, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today.
A task force set up by the Centre after the NDA came to power had already submitted its report on extra measures required to strengthen the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (COTP) Act and it would soon be considered by the cabinet, Vardhan told reporters here.
Vardhan, who declared the Regional Cancer Centre here as upgraded into the State Cancer Institute, said it was time that a war against cancer was launched in the country by making laws stringent against consumption of products such as tobacco that caused cancer.
“Fight against tobacco and liquor is fight against death. I strongly advocate for stringent anti-tobacco laws,” the minister said.
A major programme for early detection and prevention of various diseases including cancer is also on the anvil.
To a question on alleged lapses in conduct of drug trials in the country, Vardhan said the government would ensure that any aberration in the system would be rectified.
He, however, added “I do not see any major problem in the system and that only that there is further scope for doing better.”
On the possibility of making seat belt compulsory for all passengers in cars, the Minister said Health Ministry had submitted various recommendations to the Surface Transport Ministry including making seatbelt and helmet compulsory.
“My opinion is that road safety measures like these are to be strengthened and Gopinath Munde would not have died if had used seat belt.”
In a lighter vein, the minister said the first thing that he did on getting into the car on arriving here was to search for the seat belt but it was missing.
On Kerala’s demand for an AIMS, he said the Centre had already made a decision in this regard and was awaiting the state government’s report on the location for it. It would require 200 acres of land which was easily accessible to the people.
Earlier speaking at the function, Vardhan said “we should educate people constantly about issues related to positive and preventive healthcare. It will help keep all diseases, whether they are communicable or non-communicable, at bay. Eighty per cent diseases are preventable.”
“As far as statistics available to me, Kerala might be one of the states which has maximum incidence of cancer in the country. Definitely there is a need for more and more cancer institutes. But, as a practised doctor, I always believe that more than starting cancer institutes, preventive health education and early detection are needed,” he said.
The minister said a series of activities were planned all over the country to achieve the target of preventive health education and early detection. Meetings of state health ministers and health secretaries would be held soon in this regard, he said.
He said the Centre’s Universal Health Assurance programme would be a strong package of preventive and protective medicare.
The programme would help set a model for the rest of the world in terms of health sector, Vardhan said.
Centre plans a AYUSH Mission to strengthen and promote AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) in and outside the country.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy submitted a memorandum to the union minister with various demands including upgrading RCC as a national cancer institute.
Chandy said 15 acres of land in Pulayanarkotta near here would be allotted for developing the National Cancer Centre. (PTI)
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