Top orthopedic surgeon Dr Kiran Melkote - also a top official of AHER, a harm reduction group - spoke to seasoned journalist Shantanu Guha Ray on ways to handle the crisis. He answered some tough questions, including why tobacco control is not working in a billion-plus nation like India.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23 (ANI/BusinessWire India): On the back of three years of the ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDs), the fifth edition of ET Consumer Freedom Conclave, an interactive thought leadership platform, saw insightful discussion and debate on the need for an effective and cohesive smoking cessation approach to improve public health was held. Based on the theme of 'Adopting a Smoking Cessation Approach to Save Lives', the summit saw participation from eminent regulatory voices, policymakers, academia, scientific and medical experts, legal, think tanks, and consumer organizations amongst others who shared their perspectives on consumer freedom and the need for legitimizing alternate harm reduction products to aid smokers to reduce or eliminate their health risks. Delivering his keynote address, Prof M.V. Rajeev Gowda, Ex-Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha said, "India is missing a public health opportunity of reducing harm with t