Over 1,000 doctors appeal to PM Modi to enforce e-cigs ban

Mumbai: More than 1,000 doctors from 24 states and three Union Territories (UTs) of India have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enforce a ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), which include e-cigarettes - also called e-cigs, vapes and vape pens - and e-hookahs before they become an epidemic in India, especially among the youth. Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens and other everyday items.

Around 1,061 doctors expressed concern over a media report that 30 organisations had written to the Ministry of IT to prevent a ban on the promotion of ENDS on the Internet. They wrote that this is a public health matter and commercial interests should not be entertained.

On August 28, 2018, the ministry of health & family welfare (MoHFW) had issued an advisory to all states/UTs to ban ENDS. In March, a panel of health experts appointed by the MoHFW submitted a report in which 251 research studies on ENDS were analysed. The panel concluded that ENDS is as bad as any other tobacco product and is definitely not safe.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, prof, head & neck surgical oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, said, “It would not be an exaggeration if nicotine is considered poison. It is sad that the ENDS lobby has assembled a group of physicians who are sharing misleading and distorted information to suit the ENDS industry. I applaud the government that in line with their goal of universal healthcare, it took a tough stand against nicotine delivery devices. They must now ensure that this does not get diluted”

He further said, “E-cigarettes should not be promoted as a safe alternative to smoking. The only way is to completely quit smoking.”