E-cigarettes can become a Safe Alternative formore than 11 Lac Smokers of Himachal Pradesh

E-cigarettes can become a Safe Alternative for more than 11 Lac Smokers of Himachal Pradesh

Trade Association urges Himachal Pradesh CM to make state's own assessment on E-cigarettes ban

Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA----------Shimla, ----- view of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's recent move to place the Ordinance bill to ban E-cigarettes in India in the public domain for feedback, TRENDS, the voluntary association of Trade Representatives of ENDS in India – a group of importers, distributors, and marketers of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) devices has written to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh requesting him to evaluate for himself what is in the best interests of the citizens of the state.

Praveen Rikhy, Convenor, TRENDS made a plea to the Chief Minister, saying, "We would request you, as the leader of the State of Himachal Pradesh to ask the Central Government to allow your State Health department to conduct their own research and study so that a rational decision that benefits the maximum number of people of the state, can be taken."

She added, "Health is a state subject and the immense cost of diseases connected to tobacco consumption falls on the State exchequer. After all, if there is a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, which cuts cancer incidence by 50%, why should your state not offer the option to smokers In the State of Himachal Pradesh, the statistics for tobacco consumption is quite alarming, with overall tobacco users (15 years and above) at 16.8 % and smokers at 14.2 %."

TRENDS pointed out that E-Cigarettes could be a solution for both – smokers who want to move to a less harmful option, and the State which profits from lower health costs and better mortality rates.

62 world renowned Doctors and Scientists, including Dr. Atul  Ambekar of AIIMS, refuted each of the 4 claims that the ICMR proposed and based its recommendation to ban E-cigarettes.

TRENDS also sought to bring to the CM's attentions some important facts related to E-cigarettes that had not received due consideration at the Union Health Ministry: