Raise tax on nictotine products: Health experts

KARACHI: Health experts and researchers called for strengthening new tobacco products taxation to reduce access among youth and create dialogue around tobacco control laws in an awareness session organised by Sindh Institute of Oral Health-Jinnah Sindh Medical University in collaboration with Indus Hospital and Health Network. 

Prof Amjad Siraj Memon, Vice Chancellor, expressed gratitude to Indus Hospital and Health Network for collaborating and extended his appreciation to the team SIOHS-JSMU for their support. 

The chief guest for the session was Dr Saima Saeed, Consultant Pulmonologist and Director Lung Health CHD. ‘Young clinicians and medical professionals often indulge in tobacco consumption to cope with stressful situations, since nicotine is a mood-altering drug and smoking leads to reduced stress, added while addressing the dental students. 

The main objective is to garner signatories on the Voices against Tobacco (VAT) petition, drive them towards policy change, and create momentum for increasing tax on tobacco products, she stated. 

The team for lung health included Rahma Altaf, Senior Research Associate, Majid Aleem, Programme Manager Lung Health, Alina Agha, Senior Communication Manager, Alisha Jalaluddin, Communication Associate, Dr Kinza Zeeshan, Research Associate. 

During the session, Dr Zubair Abbasi, Principal of SIOHS-JSMU, said that smoking and tobacco use could severely impact brain development and lung health. He stressed that policymakers and the medical fraternity should come together and formulate strategies and preventive measures for tobacco control. 

Dr Yawar Ali Abidi, Dean SIOHS-JSMU, Dr Wasif Iqbal, Vice Principal, and Anwar Ahmed, Assistant Director, were also among the attendees.