Around 115,000 Filipino lives are lost every year to diseases caused by alcohol, tobacco, and vaping, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden study.
“Every year, more than 115,000 Filipinos die due to alcohol, vape, and cigarettes. Alcohol consumption has led to non-communicable diseases such as road accidents, domestic violence, and other harmful side effects,” said Dr. Hector Santos, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) on Tuesday.
The study also revealed that these substances cause widespread disabilities and reduced productivity.
Santos then called on the Department of Health (DOH) to take a strong stance in favor of public health policies to stop the growing number of deaths.
“I believe no less than the Department of Health should echo our urgent call for the government to recognize the need to strengthen our laws to protect young people from this epidemic,” he stressed.
The campaign, led by a coalition of medical societies and public health groups, including the Sin Tax Coalition, calls for continued support of the Sin Tax Law and its 2020 reforms.
The group also asked DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa to take a proactive approach against smoking and vaping after a photo of him posing with executives from Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co. surfaced.
“Kung kaya niya magpapicture, sana kasama din natin siya dito. Sana pumunta siya in person sa ating mga mobilizations, sana makisama din siya sa medical community, sa lahat ng komunidad. Sana maglobby din siya in favor of health taxes katulad ng mas mataas na buwis sa yosi, vape, at alak,” said AJ Montesa, an economist from the Action for Economic Reforms (AER).
(If he can take a picture with them, I hope he can also show up here. I hope he comes in person to our mobilizations and join our medical community. I hope he can also lobby in favor of health taxes like higher taxes on cigarettes, vape, and alcohol.)
Malacañang has defended Herbosa and said that having such photo meant that he violated any law.
”Kung siya man po ay nakapag photo ops hindi naman po ibig sabihin na siya’y nagba-violate na ng batas,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro.
(If he had a photo ops, it doesn’t mean that he already violated the law.)
Last week, the DOH said it continues to refuse and reject all proposed donations by the tobacco industry, whether to its officials or the agency or its units.
“We thank allies who continually remind us of the perils of tobacco and vape, and who are aware of the legal mandate and scope of the Department. We are saddened that some may have fallen victim to industry tactics of divide and conquer,” the health department said in a press statement.
It emphasized that tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Vapes and vapor products pose significant health risks including e-cigarette or vapor product associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, among others.
DOH also cited that last year, a 22-year-old Filipino male died of a heart attack following a severe lung injury, which is linked to his daily vape usage for two years. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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