(TN&MT) - Answering questions from delegates on the afternoon of November 11th, Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the number of users of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is rapidly increasing, posing many potential risks to the health and lives of people, especially young people. At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Health proposed a Resolution banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
We propose that the National Assembly issue a resolution banning e-cigarettes.
As the first person to question the Minister of Health, National Assembly representative Pham Thi Kieu from Dak Nong province stated that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products pose a serious threat to human health, especially to young people. She requested that Minister Dao Hong Lan provide an assessment of this situation and propose solutions to control it.
Regarding this issue, Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasing rapidly and pose many potential risks to the health and lives of people, especially young people.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated that the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm has been in effect for over 10 years. When the law was drafted, new types of tobacco products, heated tobacco products, and e-cigarettes had not yet emerged.
The Minister cited survey data from 34 provinces and cities in 2020 showing that the rate of e-cigarette use among adults aged 15 and over increased 18 times, from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020. The highest concentration was in the 15-24 age group (7.3%). Survey results related to the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products by age group showed that demand and use among young people, especially girls, also increased.
The rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-17 increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. The rate for the 13-15 age group increased from 3.5% to 8%. For females aged 11-18, the rate also increased by 4.3%.
The Ministry of Health has submitted a detailed impact assessment report to the Government, which summarizes the scientific basis and practices applied worldwide. The report affirms that the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products contains many harmful substances that affect health.
"We also brought some images related to e-cigarettes here. We also reported to the Social Committee that e-cigarettes come in many attractive forms. Who would imagine this is an e-cigarette? These products are marketed with great appeal, attracting many young people," Minister Dao Hong Lan said, holding two samples of e-cigarettes produced in various forms.
Numerous scientific reports have assessed the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on the heart, liver, and psychosis. In 2023, 1,234 people received treatment related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Minister of Health stated that, in the context of up to 40,000 people suffering from illnesses and health problems due to regular cigarettes each year, "now with the addition of e-cigarettes, the risk to people's health, especially young people, is very high."
Although there are no regulations permitting its sale, the Minister of Health stated that due to profit motives, marketing tactics of foreign companies, and smuggling, these cigarettes still appear on the market.
The Minister of Health hopes for a resolution from the National Assembly banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
On September 29th, at a mock National Assembly session for children with 306 participants, 100% agreed to the proposal to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. "These are aspirations we need to listen to during the policy-making and planning process. Based on this, we also wish to propose this at today's session. If the National Assembly's resolution proposes banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, this would be a practical solution to protect people's health," the Minister emphasized.
When will the regulations on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products be implemented?
During the questioning session, National Assembly delegate Do Thi Lan from Quang Ninh province stated that Prime Minister's Directive No. 47 had requested the Ministry of Health to promptly control and prevent the harmful effects of these tobacco products. Specifically, it requested the Ministry to research and propose, within its authority or by submitting to the competent authority for issuance, solutions for managing e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The delegate asked the Minister of Health when this task would be implemented.
Furthermore, in the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended) submitted to the National Assembly, Article 12 stipulates that in cases where new tobacco products are permitted to be imported, manufactured, and traded in Vietnam according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm or other relevant legal documents, these new tobacco products will be subject to special consumption tax. The representative requests the Minister to provide his/her opinion on this regulation.
Regarding this issue, Minister Dao Hong Lan stated that Vietnam has ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Besides minimizing the harm of conventional tobacco, with the emergence of new forms of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, the health sector has also proposed numerous solutions to the Government and the Prime Minister. These include strengthening public awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products through mass media, and the Ministry of Health coordinating with the education sector and relevant agencies to enhance communication and prevention of tobacco harm in general, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Minister Dao Hong Lan stated that, after consulting with various ministries and agencies, the majority strongly supported the proposal for the Government to report to the National Assembly on solutions to ban the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The Ministry of Health has conducted an impact assessment to provide a scientific basis; and has publicly announced the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes. These solutions are fundamental in nature, providing evidence and legal grounds for the Government to decide on measures to prevent the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
In addition, in response to a question from National Assembly delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa of Hai Duong province regarding whether it is possible to develop and replicate a model to support children in quitting smoking and stimulant use in the locality, the following was stated:
The Minister stated that, in implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, the Government has established the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund with nine groups of tasks that have been carried out recently. Among the Fund's task groups, there is a group of tasks related to establishing and organizing a network for tobacco cessation to support people in quitting smoking.
On the part of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry has organized 24 participating points in the smoking cessation network. These are hospitals under the Ministry of Health. Among them are many specialized hospitals with a large number of patients, such as Bach Mai Hospital, the Central Lung Hospital, and Hue Central Hospital… Bach Mai Hospital alone has established a smoking cessation center within the hospital and carries out the task of directing and supporting hospitals nationwide on this issue.
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thuoc-la-dien-tu-thuoc-la-nung-nong-lam-nong-nghi-truong-bo-truong-y-te-mong-muon-co-nghi-quyet-cam-382955.html
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