AIIMS Delhi campus declared ‘tobacco-free zone’

Tags: National News

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) located in the capital New Delhi has been declared a 'Tobacco-Free Zone'. Information in this regard has been given through an office memorandum issued by Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Important facts

• Strict action will be taken against doctors, permanent or contractual staff and security staff found smoking or chewing tobacco in the hospital premises.

• Besides, smoking and spitting tobacco on the premises of the AIIMS will be a punishable offence for the patients, attendants, and visitors and the erring persons will be fined Rs 200.

• All the heads of departments have been requested to ask the staff working under them to strictly follow the guidelines. 

• The security personnel have also been instructed not to allow the patients, attendants, visitors, and staff members to use tobacco in any form on the hospital premises.

• Tobacco is a prominent risk factor for leading causes of death and a number of non-communicable diseases (NCD), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and lung disorders. 

• The Central Government has enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) in 2003 to protect people from tobacco use and adverse effects.

• AIIMS New Delhi was established in 1956 and is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• The other All India Institutes of Medical Sciences are AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bhopal and the newly built AIIMS Nagpur.