Directorate of Health Services in India Take Efforts to Ensure 'Tobacco-free Kashmir'

The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir in an effort to bring about a ’tobacco-free premises,’ has directed the authorities including Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Medical Superintendents of district and sub-district hospitals to ensure a complete ban on smoking at hospitals and other medical institutions. The move is aimed at strengthening the public health measure at the district and sub-district level to achieve the status of ’Tobacco-free Kashmir’.

The order asks officials to display ’tobacco-free premises’ boards at the entrance of the boundary wall and ’no smoking’ signs, along with the name and contact details of the nodal officer, at all prominent places.

The officials were also directed to ensure ban on the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of all buildings or premises under the Health Department.

The WHO says that second-hand smoke causes more than 600, 000 premature deaths per year. “Science has it that over 250 known chemicals in tobacco smoke are harmful, while more than 50 are known to cause cancer. So, there is an urgent need to tackle smoking and the associated risks.”

Source-Medindia