Ban on tobacco sales goes up in smoke in Chennai

Chennai: The Madras high court had only last month come down heavily on the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. However, the ban of the same around hospital premises is yet to be taken seriously. Doctors demand that government health officials take the issue of smoking and sale of cigarettes near hospitals seriously.

The high court had, in June, directed the state government to form special squads immediately to conduct raids on shops near educational institutions, especially near schools. “There is no such rule in the case of hospitals. The hospital premises are considered as public place, and smoking within the hospital premises is prohibited,” said director of public health Kolandaisamy. “However, there is no yardstick for the same,” he said.

“Smokers  in a public place found flouting the rule are fined Rs 100. The fine is collected only to educate the smoker against smoking in a public place,” he said. However, doctors claim that educating the public against disturbing others by smoking is really not working. “Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), the biggest government hospital in the state, too sees petty shops selling cigarettes barely a few feet outside the premises,” said a senior doctor at the hospital. “On many occasions, policemen are found near the shops, however, they take no action. The State government should also take the issue of smoking outside hospitals seriously,” he added.

With over Rs 1.65 crore having been collected in terms of fines since 2008, the public health department claims that Tamil Nadu has collected the highest amount in the country. “The fines collected is the highest because of active enforcement,” said P. Vadivelan, additional director of public health.

“The police alone are not responsible to ensure that people do not smoke in public places especially outside educational and hospital institutions. It is the responsibility of each individual to fulfill his/her duties. Disturbing anyone else, be it outside a hospital or anywhere else, by smoking or coming drunk, is an offense that has to be taken seriously,” said G. R. Ravindranath of Doctors’ Association for Social Equality.