(TN&MT) - Answering questions from delegates on the afternoon of November 11, Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the number of users of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products is increasing rapidly, posing many potential risks to the health and lives of people, especially young people. At the same time, the head of the health sector proposed a Resolution on banning electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Propose the National Assembly to pass a resolution banning electronic cigarettes
As the first person to question the Minister of Health, delegate Pham Thi Kieu - National Assembly Delegation of Dak Nong province clearly stated that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are a danger to human health, especially for young people. The delegate asked Minister Dao Hong Lan to give her assessment of this situation and solutions to control this situation?
Regarding this issue, Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasing rapidly and pose many potential risks to people's health and lives, especially for young people.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms has been implemented for more than 10 years. At that time, when the law was drafted, new cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes had not yet appeared.
The Minister cited survey data in 34 provinces and cities in 2020 showing that the rate of e-cigarette use among adults aged 15 and over increased 18 times from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020. The highest concentration was in the age group of 15-24 years old (7.3%). The survey results related to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products by age groups showed that demand and use among young people, especially girls, have also increased.
The rate of e-cigarette use among 13-17 year olds increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. The 13-15 year old group increased from 3.5-8%. Females 11-18 year olds also increased by 4.3%.
The Ministry of Health has submitted a detailed impact assessment report to the Government, which summarizes the contents and scientific basis applied by the world. The report affirms that the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products contains many harmful substances, affecting health.
"We also brought here some images related to electronic cigarettes. We have also reported to the Social Committee about electronic cigarettes with many eye-catching forms. Who can imagine this is an electronic cigarette? These products are brought to the market with attractiveness, attracting a lot of young people", Minister Dao Hong Lan said and held in her hand 2 models of electronic cigarettes produced in many different forms.
There are many scientific reports that have assessed the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on the heart, liver, and psychosis. In 2023, there were 1,234 people treated for diseases related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Minister of Health said that in the context of 40,000 people getting sick and having their health affected by regular cigarettes each year, "now adding e-cigarettes is a very high risk to people's health, especially young people".
Although there are no regulations allowing their sale, the Minister of Health said that due to profits, marketing methods of foreign companies, and smuggling, these cigarettes still appear on the market.
The Minister of Health wants a resolution from the National Assembly to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
On September 29, at the hypothetical National Assembly session with 306 children, 100% of them agreed to propose to the National Assembly to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. "These are the wishes we need to listen to in the process of building and planning policies. On that basis, we also want to propose this content at today's session. If the National Assembly's resolution proposes to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, this is a practical solution to protect people's health," the Minister emphasized.
When will the management solution for electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products be issued?
Participating in the questioning, delegate Do Thi Lan - National Assembly Delegation of Quang Ninh province said that the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 47 requested the Ministry of Health to control and promptly prevent the harmful effects of this cigarette. Specifically, to study and propose to issue under authority or submit to competent authorities to issue solutions to manage electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The delegate asked the Minister of Health to let him know when this task will be carried out?
In addition, in the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended) submitted to the National Assembly, Article 12 stipulates that in cases where new tobacco products are permitted to be imported, produced and traded in Vietnam according to the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms or other legal documents, new tobacco products will be subject to special consumption tax. Delegates asked the Minister to give his opinion on this provision?
Regarding this issue, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that Vietnam has participated in the framework convention on tobacco harm prevention and control. In addition to minimizing the harm of conventional cigarettes, with the emergence of new forms of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, the health sector has also had many solutions to advise the Government and the Prime Minister, including increasing propaganda about the harm of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products on mass media, the Ministry of Health coordinates with the education sector and relevant agencies to strengthen communication and prevention of tobacco harm in general, including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Minister Dao Hong Lan said that after consulting with ministries and branches, most of them strongly supported the proposal for the Government to report to the National Assembly on solutions to ban the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Ministry of Health has organized an impact assessment as a scientific basis; has organized the announcement of the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to the public. These solutions are fundamental solutions to provide evidence and legal basis for the Government to decide on solutions to prevent the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.
In addition, answering the question of delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa - National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province about whether it is possible to build and replicate a model to support children in quitting smoking and stimulants in the locality?
The Minister said that implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, the Government has established a Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms with 9 groups of tasks implemented in the recent past. Among the Fund's task groups, there is a task group on establishing and organizing a network for smoking cessation to support people in quitting smoking.
On the side of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry has organized 24 points to participate in the network of smoking cessation. These are hospitals under the Ministry of Health. Among them are many specialized hospitals with a large number of patients such as Bach Mai Hospital, Central Lung Hospital, Hue Central Hospital... Bach Mai Hospital alone has organized a hospital-affiliated drug cessation center and is responsible for directing and supporting hospitals nationwide on this issue.
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thuoc-la-dien-tu-thuoc-la-nung-nong-lam-nong-nghi-truong-bo-truong-y-te-mong-muon-co-nghi-quyet-cam-382955.html
Comment (0)