AIIMS-Delhi researchers call for relook at ban on e-cigarettes
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI): AIIMS-Delhi researchers have called for a relook at the ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems in India, contending that e-cigarettes with nicotine, when compared with no treatment or usual care, have been evidenced to be of benefit, albeit with a risk of bias.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, are powered by batteries to simulate features of conventional tobacco smoking. In 2019, India banned the sale, storage and manufacture of such devices by bringing in the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA).
Examining the effects of this ban in light of current evidence, oncologists Dr Abhishek Shankar and Dr Vaibhav Sahni from AIIMS-Delhi, in a commentary published in the JCO Global Oncology this month, said a complete ban on such products "can (and has) routed demand towards illicit marketing".
They stated that the harms of following the abstinence approach in policy can be observed in the e-cigarette and vaping-associated lung injury outbreak in the United States, which was attributed to harmful ingredients in ENDS obtained from informal sources.
They stated that the United Kingdom, backed by Public Health England, followed a more pragmatic policy based on harm reduction, thereby adopting e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools based on evidence.
Policy differences may be attributed to regulatory measures such as those on advertising, packaging, labelling, and lowering nicotine levels in e-fluids, the researchers said.
In their 2022 evidence update, the Public Health England found vaping to be associated with a minor fraction of conventional smoking risk in the short to medium term, while acknowledging the fact that vaping is not devoid of risks, especially for "never smokers".
The researchers said that India has seen some catastrophic results with a complete ban on liquor in some states, which has led to illicit commerce and deaths caused by consuming spurious products.
A complete ban on products may cause revenue loss to the administration as well, the doctors said, underlining that despite the ban, ENDS are available for sale at local shops and through online platforms, which may not even verify the purchaser's age before making the sale and even offer home delivery.
E-cigarettes, the AIIMS-Delho doctors stated, have been demonstrated to help people quit smoking, as evidenced by data supporting elevated quit rates. There is also evidence of moderate certainty that e-cigarettes with nicotine have greater quit rates in comparison with those without nicotine.
They also said e-cigarettes with nicotine, when compared with no treatment or usual care, have also been evidenced to be of benefit, albeit with risk of bias.
"There certainly appears to be a need for advocating at least a relook into the complete abstinence policy pertaining to ENDS as is being followed by the Government of India, which is guided by evidence.
"This will ensure that public health practices remain current and well-informed and people in need of appropriate cessation aids receive the help they need within the confines of a proper regulatory framework," the doctors recommended.
Talking to PTI, Dr Shankar, an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at AIIMS-Delhi, said that available evidence conveys that the complete ENDS ban policy in India needs a relook.
"ENDS are a form of harm reduction and in a scenario where proven carcinogens such as alcohol and tobacco are not banned and ENDS are being illicitly marketed to never-smoking kids, certainly something like ENDS can be looked at for their cessation benefits with strict legislation and caution," he said.
Dr Vaibhav Sahni, a scientist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at AIIMS-Delhi, explained, "Since the ban was instituted, evidence has accrued to the extent that a relook into the ENDS policy is warranted."
"It is prudent practice to examine evidence in medicine from time to time in order to evaluate whether policy is still on the right TRACK," he told
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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