SL’s healthcare system can save roughly Rs. 3.32 trillion with tobacco reduction strategies

Govt. needs stricter regulatory mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing tobacco products  

Sri Lanka has one of the highest oral cancer rates in South Asia, with 3000 cases reported annually 

By Shannine Daniel  

Sri Lanka’s healthcare system has the opportunity to save up to GBP 8.2 billion in around 30 years, through comprehensive Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), a medical expert on tobacco regulation declared recently. This amounts to Rs. 3.32 trillion, according to today’s exchange rate. Society of Medically Harm Reduced Alternatives (SOMHRA) Founder-Director Dr Rohan Sequeira, a leading consultant cardio-endocrine physician, also revealed that the healthcare sector spends around GBP 400 million yearly to treat tobacco related ailments, with 22 percent of the country’s adult population consuming tobacco.   

Sequeira made these comments at South Asia’s first “Quit Like Sweden” Anti-Tobacco Roundtable which was held in Colombo recently.   

Quit Like Sweden (QLS) is an international public health non-profit that focuses on helping countries adopt Sweden’s successful approach to reducing smoke-related harm.  

Sequeira also revealed that Sri Lanka has one of the highest oral cancer rates in South Asia, especially among males, with around 3000 cases reported annually.   

 “Without intervention cases could double by 2044,” he added.  

Sequeira is a strong advocate for tobacco reduction and regulation, and he firmly believes that tobacco products cannot be banned completely in any country, as this incentivises black market vendors and suppliers.  

“Tobacco is not as harmful as we thought previously, which is why fear mongering tactics have backfired,” Sequeira added, further highlighting why bans on tobacco are not feasible.   

“When you ban something you also have no control over the quality, access and price of the product,” he added, calling on the Sri Lankan government to improve access to acceptable, risk reduced tobacco alternatives for adult tobacco consumers in Sri Lanka.  

He also said the government needs to adopt stricter regulatory mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing tobacco products, as certain products such as e-cigarettes are available and easily accessible in the online and physical retail markets.   

Moreover, Sequeira also recommended pilot programmes in high-burden districts, the convening of a multi stakeholder working group on THR policy development, a commission for comprehensive regulatory impact assessment and a public health communication strategy.   

“It is the bacteria in the tobacco and the smoke from the chemicals in tobacco products like cigarettes that is dangerous. Not the tobacco or nicotine itself,” he stressed.  

He said it is a government responsibility to adopt practical strategies that will suit the local context, as programmes and practices that have been successful abroad may not work in Sri Lanka.  

Current tobacco usage patterns in Sri Lanka include betel quid with tobacco (42 percent), cigarettes (28 percent), beedi (18 percent) and smokeless tobacco (12 percent).