safety aspects of vaping with
ENDs compared to conventional
cigarette smoking. On both these
parameters we find that ENDs has
minimum health and safety
concerns compared to the high
risks associated with conventional
cigarettes. Although some gaps
remain to be filled by further
research, our study conclusively
establishes that vaping with
ENDS is a safer and effective
alternative to smoking.
What could be the possible
reason for the WHO's quit or die
policy? Why is it against the
alternative of e-cigarettes?
These two question would be best
answered by WHO. However, in my
opinion as a scientist it is clear that
there are a number of new products
that have the potential to reduce
harm and thereby have a positive
effect on public health globally. This
conclusion is also supported by
leading public health groups and
agencies such as Public Health UK
and the Royal College of Physicians.
In my opinion, the WHO should
take note of these positive
attributes of ENDS and explore
policies that would enable access
to these products. The upcoming
meeting of the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC), which will be hosted in
India in November, provides an
opportunity for the WHO to
discuss these issues with leading
experts from across the globe.
Why are few state governments in
India following WHO's policy
without verifying independently?
Is there any active body in India
which is working towards
convincing them?
Our research demonstrates that in
countries such as the UK, US,
France, and Malaysia, where ecigarettes are relatively freely
“
For those with a
greater tendency for
addiction, the availability of less
harmful substitutes, such as
ENDS, offers a realistic way to
meet the psychological and
physiological cravings that are
associated with smoking while
dramatically reducing their risk
of suffering ill health.
available, the number of cigarette
smokers have declined. This
suggests that ENDs use is driving
cessation. Enabling access to such
less harmful products in India
would therefore likely support
public health objectives and reduce
the burden of smoking related
health issues.
In an Indian context, it is my belief
that there has been too little research
and analysis available for regulators to
base decisions on. Although there is a
vast amount of research available
globally, in India our study is the first
of its kind. My hope that our paper
can support state governments and
other regulatory bodies with
comprehensive evidence which would
enable them to adopt evidence based
regulation that better support public
health objectives.
It is also important to note that the
WHO has not yet adopted a policy
on ENDs, they are expected to
discuss the matter at the upcoming
FCTC meeting in November.
What is your agenda for the
WHO's upcoming conference in
November? Is there any action
plan to convince it?
I don’t have a specific agenda for the
meeting. However, the meeting is
an opportunity for the global health
community to explore evidence on
ENDs and adopt policies that would
enable leveraging their public
health potential. It would be
unfortunate if the potential of these
products were to be discarded. If I
am given a chance, I would like to
be part of this discussion and also
present my findings to the WHO.
As a scientist working in the field of
carcinogenesis for over three decades,
I have been bringing out the health
implications of sociocultural habits of
our population, especially in the
north-eastern part of our country. My
past research on betel nut and oral
cancer was noticed by our
government and taken up for a
discussion in the Indian Parliament
several years back. Even earlier, the
Government of Meghalaya, when late
Mr Purno Sangma was the Chief
Minister, invited me to discuss my
findings, since betel nut is quite
popularly masticated in the state. My
hope is that this paper will also
interest the government and generate
a discussion on how we can leverage
new technologies to improve public
health in our country.
Is it realistic to imagine a world
free from smoking? Why aren't
we looking at options beyond ecigarettes if any?
Knowing the harm caused by
smoking, it is of course most
desirable to move towards a world
free of smoking. However, as a
biochemist and molecular
biologist, I have studied human
behavior, and therefore know that
some people are more susceptible
to addiction than others. For
those with a greater tendency for
addiction, the availability of less
harmful substitutes, such as
ENDS, offers a realistic way to
meet the psychological and
physiological cravings that are
associated with smoking while
dramatically reducing their risk of
suffering ill health.
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
33