The Ministry of health intends to make the “impossible” access to tobacco products for Russian citizens born after 2015, “throughout life”. This idea is planned to make part of the state policy on combating tobacco consumption for 2016-2020, said the Minister Veronika Skvortsova at a press conference on Monday, may 30.
“The Ministry of health has developed the concept of state policy on combating tobacco consumption for 2016-2020 and beyond. And I would like to mention that the main task that we set ourselves is to ensure the conditions under which access to tobacco products for a new generation, that is, of our citizens, born after 2015 for the whole of life is impossible”, – quotes the words of Irina Skvortsova, RIA “Novosti”.
One of the possible measures for the realization of this idea in the Ministry called for a phased increase of excise taxes on tobacco products. “In developing new concepts protivootechnoy struggle from 2016 to 2020, and a later period we envisage an increase of step in the increase in excise duties”, – said Skvortsova and added that the next increase in excise duties on tobacco will happen to the country next year (in 2017, the excise duty on a thousand cigarettes will increase by 250 roubles to 1930 rubles).
The concept also provides for the prohibition of flavor additives, the transition to the universal packaging of cigarettes, the realization in Russia of cigarettes with low igniting capacity, a ban on the use of products for inhalation of combustion products in the public catering organizations, restriction the territorial accessibility of tobacco products in urban areas.
In addition, according to the Minister, it is necessary to prevent “any partnership with the tobacco organizations and to phase in the excise tax on tobacco products “to the average level among the countries of the who”. Skvortsova also called for a ban of any measure to enhance the attractiveness of cigarettes and further restrictive measures on the sale of electronic cigarettes. Note that a bill to limit sales of e-cigarettes 28 April 2016 was submitted to the Duma.
“Our challenge is to make the population less Smoking so that children do not smoke. He finished let those who already smoke, to avoid new users… Can any odious things to apreceate that harm, on the contrary, anti-Smoking play and the cause of the protest movement. That’s all we need, we need so subtly psychologically to build the whole system of dealing with tobacco, that it evoked in all age groups support,” the Minister added.
The number of smokers in Russia decreased by 16-25%
The concept, which said Skvortsova, will replace the national concept of combating tobacco consumption, which was completed at the end of 2015 and has produced results.
In 2013, Russia adopted the “anti-tobacco” law, which banned Smoking at stadiums, in schools, universities and hospitals, on playgrounds and in airplanes, as well as advertising and sales promotion of tobacco. In the summer of 2014 banned Smoking in hotels, cafes and restaurants, trains, railway stations and airports.
Skvortsov noted the effectiveness of the laws. “During the period of our active actions against tobacco for the first time in 25 years in our country has decreased the number of smokers. According to Rosstat, from 2008 to 2013 the number decreased by 16%. If you rely on the data of sociological surveys, including 2014, and 2015 – 25%”, – quotes Skvortsov “Interfax”.
According to her, tobacco use is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, “world health organization assesses the contribution of this risk factor in the development of vascular diseases, oncological diseases, respiratory diseases, endocrine diseases in the amount of about 17%”.
From the beginning of 2016 in Russia on 5% decrease in mortality
“Today we received the official data on population readings for four months of the current year, from January to April. And I want all of us to cheer the fact that the mortality rate for these four months has decreased by 28.4 thousand people compared to the first four months of last year”, – said Skvortsova.
She noted that “this 5% reduction”. “The contribution was made and April, because April gave a reduction of mortality of Russians by 8.5%,” the Minister said.
According to her, these indicators were influenced by the growing number of people who are giving up Smoking. “We see a direct correlation between quitting Smoking Russians and the decline in mortality,” – said the head of Ministry of health.
Another problem is Smoking among Russian physicians. In 2015, the Deputy Minister of health of the Russian Federation Tatyana Yakovleva at the VI all-Russian Congress of patients in Moscow cited the following figures: “62% of physicians Russia smokes in contrast to Europe, where Smoking 3% of physicians”.
The Ministry of health of the Russian Federation had to develop a project Advisory code of professional ethics of health workers, according to which health staff have to do their own healthy lifestyle and try to promote it. The results of the fight against Smoking among physicians is the head of the Ministry of health did not report.
