I&B Ministry part of anti-ban lobby: Ramadoss

NEW DELHI: Still fighting a stiff battle to ban on-screen smoking, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss feels that some officials in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry are part of the anti-ban lobby, an apparent reason for his efforts not succeeding.

Notwithstanding the lack of success, he is keen on going ahead with the ban on screen and would come down heavily on those violating it. He is also now focussing his efforts for a ban on gutka and pan masala to save children.

Denying that he was engaged in a tussle with I and B Ministry on banning smoking scenes in films, Ramadoss said that I and B Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi has been "misinformed".

"I don't see any tussle with I and B Ministry. The lobby is strong and even some of the I and B officials are part of this lobby. I am going to take it all the way," he said.

Dasmunsi had said imposing the ban was "not an easy task" and it could only be enforced if there was a ban on the industry manufacturing beedi and cigarettes and tobacco farming.

Pointing to Dasmunsi's observation that smoking should not be glamourised, Ramadoss said while there was already a law on this, why it was not being enforced.

"We have already an Act called Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003 and in that Act it is clearly stipulated that no direct or indirect advertisements of any tobacco products will be allowed," he said.

"Movie is an indirect advertisement. We are going to ban on-screen smoking under anti-tobacco Act which is under the Health Ministry. If anybody transgresses, we are going to take action under anti-tobacco Act," Ramadoss warned.

He cited a Chandigarh-based NGO's study on children taking up smoking after seeing their heroes in movies.

Similarly a study published in the journal `Lancet' showed that 52 per cent of children take up smoking in the wake of films, he said, adding "when children in the age of of 12, 13, 14 start smoking because they see their heroes smoking, then it is my duty to stop them from smoking."

Turning his attention to the chewing of tobacco products, Ramadoss said "we are definitely going to take a view on banning gutka and pan masala as lot of children are taking these products."

While banning gutka was being done through a notification, the government is awaiting a report from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which is conducting a study on the pan masala, he said.

On gutka, he said a draft notification prohibiting tobacco and alcohol in any processed food was issued four months ago and the final one was expected soon.

"We will be taking a decision soon to do away with pan masala as so many people are affected with oral cancer," he said, adding that a study was being carried out by the ICMR on the effect of pan masala.

Observing that not a single person would say that pan masala is good for health, Ramadoss said "once the study comes we will take a decision."

Brimming with new ideas, Ramadoss said that a National Drug Authority (NDA) would become functional by next year. The NDA, being set up on the line of US' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would be an autonomous body, overseeing the activities of granting approval, licensing, blood, vaccines and medical equipment.

Observing there was lacunae in granting approval of licences in the country, he said the new authority, managed by professionals and technocrats, would do away with the menace of spurious drugs.

FDA would be sending its officials to India to facilitate in this effort, Ramadoss said, adding "I am trying to get the best of world in the medical field to the country."

He said that his ministry is also making efforts to make it mandatory for all processed food to display the ingredients and their nutritional value for the benefit of the people. A draft notification in this regard had been issued six months back and the final notification was expected soon.

Ramadoss said the government was in the process of setting up public health schools.

These schools would impart training to public health officials, he said, adding chief ministers of states like Harayana, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had been approached for providing land to set up the institutes.

Each institute would be set up at a cost of Rs 100 crore with public-private partnership, he said.

On the issue of clinical trials, he said a clinical trial registry would be set up in six months' time in which all clinical trials and their positive and adverse outcomes would be registered.

On the controversy surrounding the medicines sold by Swami Ramdev, Ramadoss said he was in support of the Yoga aspect propagated by him. His ministry has even recommended to the HRD ministry to make Yoga a mandatory subject in school.

On the drug issue, he said his ministry is waiting for the report from the Uttaranchal government which has been asked to conduct an inquiry.

He said his ministry was keen on health cess. "We are trying to push it. However, a decision will be taken by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister."

The Ministry had also taken up the issue with the Human Resource Development Ministry on imparting health education. It would have subjects such as HIV, population, environment, health and cleanliness, in schools.