What we do
Tobacco is one of the biggest global health concerns of this century with a significant contribution to the increasing burden of cancers, chronic diseases and associated mortality. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), globally tobacco kills nearly 8 million people each year, of which around 1.2 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
In India alone, tobacco kills more than one million Indians annually. Tobacco alone is responsible for 1.5 lakh cancers, 4.2 million heart diseases, 3.7 million lung diseases every year in India. India is the oral cancer capital of the world because of rampant habit of tobacco chewing. Over, 65% of cancer cases in India are attributed to tobacco use. 30% of cancers arise in head and neck region is caused due to non-smoking tobacco used in India.
In fact, India has 266.8 million tobacco users, as per Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2009 estimated that daily about 5,500 youth and children as young as 8 years old, initiate tobacco use. Tobacco-use also imposes enormous economic costs at the country level. In 2011, the total direct and indirect cost of diseases attributable to tobacco use was a staggering Rs. 1.04 lakh crore ($17 billion) or 1.16% of India’s GDP.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world’s first public health treaty enacted under the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the biggest global initiative in tobacco control. There are currently 181 Parties to the Convention. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.
Government of India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004, the first ever international public health treaty focusing on the global public health issue of tobacco control. WHO-FCTC provides for various measures to reduce the demand as well as supply of tobacco. India played a leading role in FCTC negotiations to finalize its provisions and was the regional coordinator for the South- East Asian countries.
India has played a key role in regulating tobacco use and its consumption. India enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 or COTPA to prohibit advertisement of, and to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and production, supply Under COTPA, many States have taken effective steps for prohibition on smoking in public spaces, prohibition on all forms of direct/indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, prohibition on sale of tobacco products to minors as well as within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions, and mandatory depiction of specified pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. However, COTPA is best implemented when there are coordinated efforts in the direction by effectively involving various stakeholders.
The National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and tobacco Control Laws as well as to facilitate effective implementation of the tobacco control laws. Such efforts have resulted in greater awareness among the masses and have led to tobacco control.
India has reduced tobacco use among adults by 17 per cent since 2010. As a result there are over 8 million fewer tobacco users today than there were just seven years ago despite the growth in the Indian population, according to new data released by the Indian Government. The decline in tobacco use is highlighted in India’s second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) report and confirms that India’s package of public health laws are working to reduce tobacco use and save lives.
VHAI’s Role in Tobacco Control
With a vision of making health and development a reality for the people of India, VHAI has over 45 years of experience in innovative models of sustainable health care particularly at the grassroots level.
VHAI is amongst the pioneers of tobacco control at National, State and District level. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh are some of the States, where VHAI has been at the forefront on tobacco control programs.
Our focus is to safe-guard the public from second hand smoke; children and young adults from initiating tobacco use and gaining access to tobacco products.
Reach UsProviding Technical Support to Government of India on Tobacco Control Initiatives
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world’s first public health treaty enacted under the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the biggest global initiative in tobacco control. There are currently 181 Parties to the Convention. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.
Government of India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004, the first ever international public health treaty focusing on the global public health issue of tobacco control. WHO-FCTC provides for various measures to reduce the demand as well as supply of tobacco. India played a leading role in FCTC negotiations to finalize its provisions and was the regional coordinator for the South- East Asian countries.
India has played a key role in regulating tobacco use and its consumption. India enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 or COTPA to prohibit advertisement of, and to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and production, supply Under COTPA, many States have taken effective steps for prohibition on smoking in public spaces, prohibition on all forms of direct/indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, prohibition on sale of tobacco products to minors as well as within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions, and mandatory depiction of specified pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. However, COTPA is best implemented when there are coordinated efforts in the direction by effectively involving various stakeholders.
The National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and tobacco Control Laws as well as to facilitate effective implementation of the tobacco control laws. Such efforts have resulted in greater awareness among the masses and have led to tobacco control.
India has reduced tobacco use among adults by 17 per cent since 2010. As a result there are over 8 million fewer tobacco users today than there were just seven years ago despite the growth in the Indian population, according to new data released by the Indian Government. The decline in tobacco use is highlighted in India’s second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) report and confirms that India’s package of public health laws are working to reduce tobacco use and save lives.
VHAI works very closely with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on wide-ranging public health issues and with other key departments like Labour, Rural Department, Skill Development, Women and Child Development.
VHAI has been nominated as a Member of many Committees of the Government of India particularly meant for Tobacco Control, such as:
- Task Force on Tobacco Control, Working Group on Disease Burden (Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases) for the formulation of the 12th Five Year Plan
- Committee to Review COTPA and suggest appropriate amendments
- Task Group on Tobacco Prevention and Control under Non-Communicable Diseases Working Group
- Technical Advisory and Monitoring Committee regarding 2nd Round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS India 2)
- Technical Expert Committee for National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke
- Expert Committee for Development of New Specified Health Warnings
- Nasha Mukti Abhiyan Task Force under National Health Policy 2017
- National Technical Working Group on School Health Curriculum under Ayushman Bharat
To save the lives of million people
VHAI has been implementing a comprehensive tobacco control programme at the National and State level. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen tobacco control policies through strong policy initiative building & media partnerships and commitment at national and state level based on evidence and best practices. This niche mission has contributed significantly to overall tobacco control measures in the last decade. VHAI has run many successful campaigns that have received phenomenal appreciation.Reach UsThe crucial attributes of VHAI tobacco control work have been building effective partnerships, sensitization of stakeholders, capacity building of state partners coordinated efforts with civil society organizations.
