SASNAGAR, May 30 – Tobacco is a major cause of death globally, killing more than 8 million people every year, while smoking kills 1 million people every year in India. dies Deepak Bhasin, senior doctor at Max Hospital, Mohali, said that despite all the efforts made by the governments in this regard, tobacco use continues. He said that about 130 million people in the world use tobacco, of which about 80 percent live in low- and middle-income countries. He said tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide with devastating health and economic impacts.
Speaking on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, he said that the economic loss due to tobacco use is staggering which is more than 1.4 trillion annually. This figure is equivalent to 1.8 of the world's gross domestic product (GDP).
Dr Bhasin said effective surveillance and evidence-based interventions are essential to curb the tobacco epidemic and protect public health. Nicotine and tobacco products such as vaping and electronic cigarettes present additional challenges, he said. These products retain toxins and pose significant health risks despite claims of low harm.