New Delhi, October 25 (IANS). Amid the growing tobacco epidemic in the country, four out of 10 households are suffering from smoking addiction. A new report released on Friday has revealed that 65 percent of health professionals in the country are demanding safe and new alternatives to tobacco to save lives.
The Doctors Against Addiction (DAAD) survey, in collaboration with Cygen Global Insights & Consulting, reports a significant shift in the attitudes of healthcare professionals, with 65 per cent of doctors recommending nicotine replacement therapy and heat-not smoking cessation efforts. -Supporting integration of secure options like burn products.
He stressed the need for more research on the efficacy of these options.
The report marks a turning point in India’s ongoing fight against tobacco addiction, which causes more than 9,30,000 deaths annually.
More than 2,500 people lose their lives every day due to smoking-related diseases.
Dr. Mohsin Wali, Padmashree awardee and senior consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “Tobacco addiction is the country’s biggest public health challenge. To tackle it, we must give priority to scientifically accepted alternatives to quitting tobacco. “As healthcare professionals, guiding patients toward safer alternatives is critical to saving lives and reducing the devastating effects of tobacco.”
Dr. Manish Sharma, Chief Coordinator, DAAD, said, “India’s tobacco crisis is a national emergency, requiring immediate intervention. Scientifically proven solutions to quit smoking should be immediately recommended for legislative action.”
The survey included 300 health care professionals in which more than 70 percent cited the severity of addiction and lack of motivation and 60 percent pointed to the lack of addiction resources as major barriers to quitting.
This revealed that smoking cessation in India is being hindered due to inadequate follow-up care and poor implementation of evidence-based methods.
Only 7.4 per cent of healthcare providers regularly provide advice on quitting addiction and only 56.4 per cent arrange follow-up consultation. These figures indicate a significant shortage.
Dr Pawan Gupta, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary Medicine, BLK-Max Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi, said, “Multi-pronged solutions are needed to get rid of tobacco addiction. The emergence of safe and new alternative products to quit smoking is one of our strategies. “By making these smoking cessation strategies available in one place and by increasing people’s knowledge of them and digital platforms and resources, we can greatly improve our treatment outcomes.”
–IANS
AKS/AKJ
