SMOKING in indoor spaces and on public transport vehicles will be banned once relevant government authorities upgrade guidelines on advertisement, promotion, packaging and labelling requirements on tobacco products.
This was announced by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele speaking at the handover of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) Comprehensive Medical Centre (CMC) last Friday. The CMC will provide tertiary clinical services on Non-Communicable Diseases, the leading cause of death in Solomon Islands.
“My government will step up actions to reduce tobacco consumption under the Solomon Islands Tobacco Control act 2010 by restricting smoking in indoor places and on public transport. We will also upgrade guidelines of advertisement and promotions and packaging and labelling requirements.
PM Manele highlighted that Solomon Islands is at an NCD crisis point, with the health system struggling to cope with the weight of NCD cases.
He said the CMC will provide the added space for modern medical devices and technology, new specialist knowledge and skills in treating secondary prevention and preventing serial mobility and mortality of all NCDs.
PM Manele said in addition to lifting the level of healthcare, the CMC will also help the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ ongoing programmes to address the six key drivers of the NCDs, which are smoking, alcohol, sugar, salt, fats and the lack of physical activities.
The PM said these drivers lead to diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, stroke, kidney diseases, liver diseases and lung diseases.
“It is a known fact that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancers, including lung diseases. It is also a known fact excessive alcohol drinking is a leading cause of liver cancers and chronic liver diseases,” he said.
PM Manele said the government will explore and revisit the licenses of tobacco manufacturing and distribution companies and retail outlets.
“We will increase the charges, as maybe necessary as the cost and health impact of tobacco smoking far outweighs the benefits gained from the current licenses fee collected under the tobacco act,” he added.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
