24 February 2000
Issued by: GCIS - Department of Health
The Department of Health welcomes the announced budget, particularly with reference to tobacco tax as well as more focus on HIV/AIDS care.
Over the past years tax has been increased on tobacco and its products, a definite deterrent to the habit of smoking. To promote the health policy regarding smoking, the total tax on tobacco products has been increased to bring the tax up to 50% of the retail price, meaning the price of 20 cigarettes increases by 38 cents.
This will hopefully reduce smoking which will in turn benefit South African population as more resources will be allocated to fields of health care, other than treating tobacco related diseases which could have been avoided.
This is another way of protecting the environment and those who live in it who do not smoke. Research done has proven that the smoke released while a cigarette burns in the ashtray contains twice as much nicotine, 60 times more ammonia and 100 times more cancer-causing chemical than the smoke inhaled by the smoker.
While smokers enjoy their habit of smoking, it has harmful effects on non-smokers. Breathing other people's smoke causes lung cancer in non-smokers. Studies have shown that persons whose partners smoke have a 20% to 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer than those whose partners do not smoke. Research has also found that passive smoking causes heart disease in non-smokers. Hence the Department feels that it is obliged to protect the rights of non-smokers.
The effects of exposure to smoke may only manifest itself after a number of years causing chronic diseases like cancers and cardiovascular problems. People exposed to smoke may suffer from other illnesses like lung infections and pneumonia. Cancer deaths are expected to double in developing countries over the next 25 years, mainly because of smoking. 70% of future deaths from smoking will be in developing countries.
Department of Health
Private Bag X828
Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA
312 0713 FAX: 325 7813/4
Contact: Ms Nothemba Dlali
Phone: (012) 312 0713/ 082 775 4791
Fax: (012) 325 7813/4