National Committee for Tobacco Control holds virtual meeting

Muscat: The National Committee for Tobacco Control (NCTC) convened its 11th meeting via video conference under the chairmanship of Dr Mohammed Saif Al-Hosni, Undersecretary of Ministry of Health for Health Affairs.

The meeting reviewed the composition of the committee members, as new members were added from Sultan Qaboos University and other departments concerned.

The meeting touched upon the results of an economic cost survey of smoking and second-hand smoke exposure in the Sultanate and GCC States (a survey carried out under the supervision of the Health Council and published in 2021). The survey showed a clear increase in the economic cost of tobacco consumption on the economics of the GCC countries in general and the Sultanate in particular, for which the economic cost of the consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke is equivalent to the GDP of the Sultanate.

Furthermore, the national committee stressed the importance of the media plan on promoting awareness of the hazards of tobacco products. During the meeting, it has been agreed to form joint teamwork for devising a media plan, comprising representatives from ministries of health, information, education, higher education and scientific research, social development and civil cancer association.