DoH sounds alarm on rising tobacco use
Smoking contributes to other diseases, including certain eye disorders and immune system problems like rheumatoid arthritis, the Health department noted.
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Smoking contributes to other diseases, including certain eye disorders and immune system problems like rheumatoid arthritis, the Health department noted.
The Department of Health (DoH) has expressed alarm over the rising prevalence of tobacco use by Filipinos.
In a statement on Friday, the DoH reminded the public that nicotine addiction from tobacco products remained a critical public health concern in the Philippines.
Citing the 2023 National Nutrition Survey, tobacco prevalence went up from 19 percent in 2021 to 24.4 percent among adults aged 20 to 59.
With this, the DoH stressed that tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates over eight million annual deaths attributable to tobacco.
In the Philippines, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority for 2023 and 2024 indicate that the top three causes of death — heart attacks, cancer and strokes — are all linked to tobacco use.
“Beyond its association with the top three causes of death, cigarette smoking is also linked to a range of other serious health conditions. These include lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and harmful reproductive health effects,” the DoH noted.
Additionally, smoking contributes to other diseases, including certain eye disorders and immune system problems like rheumatoid arthritis, the Health department noted.
The agency also emphasized the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke, which is known to cause coronary heart disease, strokes and lung cancer in adults, and increases the risk of respiratory and ear infections, asthma attacks and sudden infant death syndrome in children.
In May 2024, the young patient succumbed to a severe lung injury, which the DoH attributed to his daily vape use.
“Vapes and vapor products pose significant health risks, including e-cigarette or vapor product-associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, among others,” the DoH warned.
The Philippines has recorded its first case of an EVALI-related death in a 22-year-old athletic male who had no history of smoking or other vices but started vaping at an early age.
In May 2024, the young patient succumbed to a severe lung injury, which the DoH attributed to his daily vape use.
In addition to its policy successes with the Sin Tax and Graphic Health Warnings, the DoH has encouraged tobacco and vape users to take advantage of its Quitline (1558) and other smoking cessation services.
“The DoH continues to refuse and reject all proposed donations by the tobacco industry, whether to its officials or the agency or its units,” the DoH maintained.
“We thank allies who continually remind us of the perils of tobacco and vaping, and who are aware of the legal mandate and scope of the department. We are saddened that some may have fallen victim to industry tactics of divide and conquer,” it added.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa recently came under fire for posing for pictures with executives of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co. at a Malacañang event.
Health reform advocates slammed Herbosa for “promoting tobacco products,” citing Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-001 of the Civil Service Commission and the DoH which explicitly mandates that government officials should avoid unnecessary interactions with and not accept donations from the tobacco industry.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, however, said there was no evidence Herbosa accepted donations from tobacco companies.
“If the DoH didn’t receive any donation from the tobacco company, we don’t see anything wrong with that,” she added.
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