Question : TOBACCO ATTRIBUTABLE DEATHS

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the burden of tobacco attributable diseases in the country, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(b) the number of tobacco attributable deaths reported and the funds spent by the Government on their treatment in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, gender and State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has evaluated the performance and impact of the schemes and awareness programmes aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the steps being taken by the Government to make them more effective;

(d) whether the Government has stake in a number of cigarette manufacturing companies in the country, if so , the details thereof along with the rationale behind the same; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to frame a national policy to tackle the issue with due consideration to balance public health and revenue generation?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) & (b): As per the Report of Tobacco Control in India (2004) commissioned by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, nearly 8-9 lakh deaths are attributable to tobacco use in India every year.

As per the study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 2006 titled “Assessment of Burden of Diseases due to Non-communicable Diseases” based on analysis of published literature till 2004, the risk of diseases attributable to tobacco use was for stroke (78%), tuberculosis (65.6%), ischemic heart disease (85.2%), acute myocardial infarction (52%), oesophageal cancer (43%), oral cancer (38%) and lung cancer (16%) respectively.

As per a Study commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in the year 2011 for persons aged 35-69 years amounted to Rs. 1,04,500 crores which was 1.16 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08 and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010.

Details of the funds released under these programmes to the States / Union Territories (UTs) during the current year and in the previous three years are ANNEXED.

(c): The Government of India got an external evaluation done of the National Tobacco Control programme through Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). Recommendations of this evaluation have been suitably incorporated in the 12th Five Year Plan for National Tobacco Control Programme, to make the outcomes more effective.

(d): Information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of The House.

(e): The Government of India has constituted an Inter- Ministerial Committee of Secretaries, under the Chair- manship of Cabinet Secretary, to review and develop a comprehensive policy on tobacco and tobacco related issues.