Q & A: Cigarette and tobacco price hike not exactly fruitful

Among all the features in the budget presented by the Modi government, one of the much appreciated moves was the increase in excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco products. Most supported the decision believing high prices would reduce consumption resulting in reduction of cancer cases. For oncologists who deal with tobacco related cancers, how was this announcement recieved? To find out, Anvi Mehta speaks to city based oncologist Dr Minish Jain..

Q What is the status of cancer due to nicotine products in India?
A In India, 40 per cent of the cancer cases can be attributed to the use of tobacco products like gutkhas, bidi and other chewable tobacco. Cigarettes account for 10 per cent of the cancer patients in the country. The number is increasing more in the lower age groups, especially youth in their 20's and 30's.

Q. What do you think of the price hike in cigarettes and tobacco?
A The price hike is a good initiative by the government. It is always better to see an increase in price of things which are not an integral part of a family's needs. But, this price hike will not make much of a dent on the regular smokers or tobacco users. The price raise should be 5 to 10 times more for a person to absolutely stop the regular use. In foreign countries like Australia a cigarette packet roughly costs around 1500 a packet where 60 per cent is excise duty, the same is now 250-300 a packet in India after the increase in excise duty.

Q Will be any reduction in the cancer causing addictions?
A Currently, increase in cigarette and tobacco rates have become like the rise in petrol rates, for 10 to 15 days people will cry over the price hike but after some time they may end up adjusting with the risen prices. There can be three scenarios after the price hike, either people may reduce the use of these products, they compromise with the family budget to cater their demands or they may just switch themselves to a lower brand. High end brands of cigarettes have more filters and hence they do not affect the mouth. Using lower brands with less filtration is even more dangerous as it may lead to mouth cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer and other diseases too.

Q What more can be done to reduce cancer rates in the country?
A The educated class and high income group is getting affected by cancer but not as much as the middle income group and the worker class. For this class of people, awareness camps and educational programs to explain the ill effects of the cigarette and tobacco should be conducted but something that will really shock them. Especially for kids below 15years, if they start smoking or chewing tobacco, there are 75 per cent chances of the kid becoming a smoker for lifetime. Schools should start with anti tobacco camps and educate their kids. The hike in rates of tobacco products and cigarettes is good but not enough to deter people from using cancer causing nicotine products.