[Intl-tobacco] India: Regulations of anti-tobacco act worked out

[rob@essential.org]

Regulations of anti-tobacco act worked out: Sushma
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2004
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/482590.cms

NEW DELHI : Government has worked out rules and regulations of the
Anti-Tobacco Act, which is likely to come into force by May 1, Health
Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday.
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"We have worked out the rules and regulations of the Anti-Tobacco Bill whic=
h
has been sent for notification," Swaraj told reporters on completion of one
year in office.
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Apparently with an eye on coming Lok Sabha polls, Swaraj also enumerated
achievements of her ministry, among which she included the setting up of a
macro-economic commission to attain the aim of health for all and "Vande
Matram Yojna" for including private sector doctors to provide health
facilities to pregnant women, which is to be inaugurated this Monday.
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She said the Anti-Tobacco Act would ban advertisements on smoking in both
print and electronic media, ban smoking in public places and prohibit sale
of cigarettes to minors.
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The government had also introduced a bill on death penalty for spurious dru=
g
manufacturers. However, it lapsed with dissolution of the Lok Sabha, Swaraj
said.
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"It would be taken up as the first bill in the new Lok Sabha, if things go
all right," she said.
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Swaraj said with an aim to provide health for all, a macro-economic
commission had been constituted which would come out with its report in one
year.
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The minister said in view of spread of bird flu, health and agricultural
officials from the SAARC countries would meet here on 16th February.
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"The macro-economic commission, which represents a paradigm shift by
imparting greater importance to health and considering it an important
factor in facilitating larger incomes, will look into how to increase
investment in public health," she said.
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Swaraj said the "Vande Mataram Yojna" would involve private sector
gynaecologists to give free services to pregnant women once a month.
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The scheme would be inaugurated on Monday here, she said adding through thi=
s
scheme and another called "Janani Suraksha Yojna", government hoped to brin=
g
down the rates of mother and infant mortality.
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The distribution of AIDS drugs through public sector hospitals in six high
prevalence states would begin this April and government had also allocated
budgetary money for setting up six new All Indian Institutes of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) and upgrading of six hospitals to AIIMS-level in various
states, she said.
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Setting up of a task force to make India a health destination, plans to
cover 100 per cent of population through Directly Observed Short Duration
Treatment (DOTS) for tuberculosis and approval of an All India Institute of
Ayurveda were some other achievements of her ministry, Swaraj said.