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** 05 May 2022
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** UK
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** Cancer checks: Record number of patients referred in England (#1)
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** International
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** Australia: New tobacco strategy and regulations on the way as survey shows majority support tobacco sale ban (#2)
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** Thailand: Bangkok to impose tobacco tax for the first time (#3)
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** India: Karnataka takes tobacco fight to next level (#4)
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** UK
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** Cancer checks: Record number of patients referred in England
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** A record 2.7 million people were referred for cancer checks in the last year, NHS England has said. This comes after figures suggested the COVID-19 pandemic saw numbers dramatically decline in 2020. However, at least 30,000 people are still waiting to start treatment.
Charities have welcomed the increase in referrals but warned of the "devastating" impact the pandemic has had on cancer care. Referrals for suspected cancer remain at about 16% higher than pre-pandemic levels and rose overall from 2.4 million to 2,65m in the past 12 months.
Minesh Patel, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "To avoid putting further pressure on hardworking doctors and nurses, it's vital the government includes steps in the upcoming 10-year cancer plan to grow the number of cancer professionals so that people living with cancer receive the quality and timely care they desperately need."
In a report earlier this month, the Health and Social Care Committee said 3 million fewer people in the UK were invited for screenings between March and September 2020.
And between March 2020 and March 2021, 326,000 fewer people in England received an urgent referral for suspected cancer.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our upcoming 10-year cancer plan that will lead Europe in cancer care, along with our record investment to cut waiting times and the introduction of the health and social care levy, will help us continue our mission to tackle the Covid backlogs.”
Source: BBC News, 2 March 2022
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** International
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** Australia: New tobacco strategy and regulations on the way as survey shows majority support tobacco sale ban
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** Proposals set out in Australia’s draft tobacco strategy suggest the country might increase the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products, currently set at 18. Australia's 2022-2030 draft tobacco strategy includes a proposal to “consider the feasibility of raising the age of purchase of tobacco products and monitor international developments on this matter” alongside other proposals to explore how tobacco sales can be further restricted.
The draft tobacco strategy was opened to public consultation in March 2022 and will be further developed based on submissions made to this.
This comes as a national survey, conducted by the Cancer Council, revealed that most Australians would support a policy that stops retailers from selling cigarettes completely.
Only 16.1% of Australians surveyed said a ban would be a 'bad thing', while 50.8% supported a phase-out, and 61.8% said it should happen within the next decade. Further, 75.3% of surveyed Australians also supported the idea of stricter licensing regulations for retailers, while 76.3% wanted more sales restrictions in places where children could enter.
Source: Daily Mail, 5 May 2022
See also: Australian Government – National tobacco strategy ([link removed] )
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** Thailand: Bangkok to impose tobacco tax for the first time
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** Bangkok is planning to introduce a tobacco tax applied to each cigarette sold, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The tax, known as “Tobacco Tax for Local Maintenance” is intended to help limit consumption of tobacco, according to permanent secretary of the BMA Suthathip Son-iam. The tax money will be used “for maintenance of Bangkok city”.
Tobacco control advocates have shown their support for the proposed tobacco tax, which has been in the pipeline for many years. Other localities in Thailand have been collecting taxes on tobacco products since 2003, but Bangkok has never implemented such a tax, despite campaigners’ efforts.
President of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, Prakit Vathesatogkit, suggested that candidates in the city governor election should address the tobacco tax in their election manifestos. The proposals need local government approval before a date can be set for implementation.
Source: The Thaiger, 5 May 2022
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** India: Karnataka takes tobacco fight to next level
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** India’s Health Minister, Dr K Sudhakar, launched the ‘India Vs Tobacco’ campaign on Wednesday (4^th April), which encourages young people, parents and institutions to work towards a tobacco-free country.
Sudhakar unveiled QR code-enabled billboards and posters in Bengaluru. The interactive billboards aim to initiate conversations about the health hazards of tobacco use and spread awareness on the harmful effects of second-hand smoking.
Led by the Health Department, the government of Karnataka and technical partner, Vital Strategies, the billboards will be up until 31^st May (World No Tobacco Day) at prominent places in the city. The campaign will also be promoted on social media, with messaging on the harmful effects of tobacco on the environment, in keeping with this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day — ‘Tobacco: Threat to the Environment’.
Source: Deccan Herald, 5 May 2022
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