(a) whether the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as an effective measure for
smoking cessation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the benefits of NRT alongwith the steps taken/proposed to
introduce and popularize such therapy in the country;
(d) whether the Government proposes to include Nicotine in the
National List of Essential Medicines for the purpose; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
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ANSWER
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THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.267
FOR 19TH AUGUST, 2011
(a) to (c): World Health Organization has stated that they have included
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the ‘WHO Model List of Essential
Medicines.’ As stated in the ‘Proposal for Inclusion of Nicotine Replacement
Therapy (NRT) in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines’, 2008, NRT is a
class of nicotine delivering medicines which help people to stop smoking by
acting at brain nicotine receptors, thus reducing withdrawal symptoms. It is
mentioned that NRT is a ‘clean’ form for delivering nicotine, which is not
accompanied by the main carcinogens and other toxic substances found in
tobacco products and produced by their combustion.
In this regard, the Government of India has taken following steps:
1. A network of 19 Tobacco Cessation Centers has been set up in the
country under the Government of India -WHO collaborative Tobacco Free
Initiative Programme since 2002. These centres have used established
strategies for tobacco cessation including behavioral counseling and
pharmacotherapy and Nicotine Replacement Therapy to assist tobacco users
to quit tobacco use.
2. Under the National Tobacco Control Programme, tobacco cessation
services are included in the District Tobacco Control Programme with the
provision to set up clinics with dedicated staff to provide cessation
facilities in the district hospitals of 42 districts in 21 states.
3. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has developed a
‘Training Manual for Doctors’, to train them in providing tobacco
cessation services including use of NRT.
4. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also developed
‘Tobacco Dependence Treatment Guidelines’ recognizing the need for
professional help to tobacco users to quit as well as with an objective
to sensitize, train and equip health care providers with the knowledge
and skills of providing treatment for tobacco dependence.
(d) & (e) There is no such proposal at present.
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