BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: More than 1000 doctors from 24 states and three union territories across the country have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce the ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), which includes e-cigarettes, e-hookah, etc., before it becomes an epidemic in India, especially among the youth.

These 1061 physicians are extremely concerned that on a public health matter, trade and industry organizations’ are pitching in support of e-cigarettes.

The doctors were concerned about a media report that 30 organisations had written to the Union Ministry of IT to prevent the ban on promotion of ENDS on the internet. The doctors wrote that this is a public health matter and business interests should not be entertained.

Recently, a panel of health experts appointed by Union Health Ministry submitted a report in which 251 research studies on ENDS were analysed. The expert panel concluded that ENDS is as bad as any other tobacco product and is definitely not safe.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Deputy Director, Prof., Head & Neck Surgeon (Oncology)-Tata Memorial Hospital, said, “I applaud the Union Government that in line with their goal of universal healthcare, it took a tough stand against nicotine delivery devices including E-cigarettes. It must now ensure that this does not get diluted”

Dr Chaturvedi stated that E-cigarettes should not be promoted as a safe alternative. The only way is to completely quit smoking and not initiate use of any tobacco product. Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine under the allure of safe smoking.

Dr Shiv Choudhary, Head of Cardio-Thoracic Vascular Surgery at AIIMS Delhi, said, “As a doctor, I will never recommend any nicotine product usage without medical supervision, it being a highly addictive chemical. These nicotine products should be banned in India.”

Ashima Sarin, Director, Voice of Tobacco Victims, said, “The ENDS lobby is spending lot of money on trying to get an entry into India. People who have not tried regular cigarettes are initiating with vaping and end up regularly smoking cigarettes or both.”