On the afternoon of November 11, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired the second group of questions on health issues. The current situation of using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products was an issue of concern to many delegates.
Responding to questions from delegates regarding the current situation of using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasing rapidly and pose many potential risks to people's health and lives, especially for young people.
A survey in 34 provinces and cities in 2020 showed 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, with the highest concentration in the age group from 15 to 24 years old.
The results of the survey related to the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products by age groups show that the demand and use among young people, especially women, is also increasing.
The Minister of Health also analyzed the harmful effects of using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, especially for young people.
To address this issue, the Minister proposed amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms for consideration by the National Assembly, including regulations prohibiting e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Minister Dao Hong Lan said that Vietnam has joined the framework convention on tobacco harm prevention and control.
In addition to minimizing the harmful effects of conventional cigarettes, with the emergence of new forms of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco, the health sector has also had many solutions to advise the Government and the Prime Minister.
In which, increasing propaganda about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products on mass media, the Ministry of Health coordinates with the education sector and relevant agencies to strengthen communication and prevention of harmful effects of tobacco in general, including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Answering the delegate's question about support for smoking cessation for people in general and young people in particular, the Minister said that, implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, the Government has established a Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms with 9 groups of tasks implemented in the recent past.
In the Fund's task groups, there is a task group on establishing and organizing a network for smoking cessation to support people in quitting smoking.
On the side of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry has organized 24 points to participate in the network of smoking cessation. 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, Central Lung Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, etc.
Bach Mai Hospital alone has organized a drug rehabilitation center within the hospital and is responsible for directing and supporting hospitals nationwide on this issue.
