Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan announced in Bhopal on Tuesday that Value Added Tax on tobacco products would be brought on par with that of neighbouring states. “We will enforce the law and VAT on tobacco products would be brought on par with Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,” Mr. Chouhan said during a function to observe World Cancer Day.
He added that from March 15, all district hospitals would provide free generic cancer medication for patients with prescriptions. Health Secretary Pravir Krishna said that generic chemotherapy would also be made available at district hospitals in phases. “Personnel are being trained by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal to provide chemotherapy. This will begin in 10 district hospitals and will gradually be spread to all district hospitals,” he told The Hindu .
MP was the second state to ban gutkha, in 2011, after Goa. The ban under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulations 2011 prohibits the mixing of tobacco or any nicotine in any food product which includes gutkha-a powder of arecanut, paraffin, slaked lime and flavours consumed orally. However dealers have found a loophole by selling tobacco and gutkha separately which is mixed by the shop. An Expert Committee of the state government is looking into ways and means to practically enforce the ban.
