KUALA LUMPUR – Health advocacy think tank Galen Centre lauded Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s call to ban individuals born post-2005 from smoking, which is expected to be one of the provisions in the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill to be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session.
Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said in a statement today that the move by Putrajaya will go a long way in helping to prevent lung cancer, adding that the policy can save lives.
“Smoking prevalence is high in Malaysia. While the national smoking prevalence is 21.3% according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, nearly 50% of all adult males were smokers.
“However, although more than 90% of male lung cancer patients had a lifetime history of smoking, nearly all female lung cancer patients have never smoked.
“It is imperative that we bridge the gap in care for those living with lung cancer. Only 11% of patients with lung cancer currently survive beyond five years of diagnosis,” highlighted Azrul.
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a low survival rate. It is found to account for around 11% of cancer cases in Malaysia.
Greater support needed for present smoking cessation measures
Alongside the ban, Azrul also said that existing smoking cessation strategies, such as nicotine replacement therapies, should be strongly supported in order to help smokers overcome their addiction.
In addition, the health advocate explained that the association between lung cancer and smoking has conjured a bad reputation and taboo of the disease, which causes patients to avoid getting help until it is too late.
“Because most lung cancers are associated with smoking, lung cancer remains a highly stigmatised disease.
“The guilt and blame associated with lung cancer may prevent people from talking about their illness and even visiting their doctors for treatment,” said Azrul.
He added that the nation must change the way it thinks of lung cancer as a whole to ensure that patients and their families are better supported with access to the best care and treatment options possible, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy to increase their likelihood of survival.
“They must not be left behind. We need a moonshot when it comes to lung cancer,” he said.
Proposed ban aims to bring about ‘generational endgame’ to smoking
Last month at the 150th session of the World Health Organisation’s executive board meeting, Khairy announced plans to “bring about a generational endgame to smoking” by prohibiting cigarettes and tobacco sales to those born after 2005.
The Rembau lawmaker added that they hope to pass the bill this year in order to curb health issues caused by the addiction.
“We, like some other Western Pacific countries, hope to pass a legislation this year, which, if successful, will bring about a generational endgame to smoking by making it illegal for the sale of tobacco and other smoking products to anyone born after 2005.
“Malaysia feels this will have a significant impact in preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases,” he said. – The Vibes, February 4, 2022
