Mangaluru: “The government has not passed any order to ban tobacco products in the state. We have convened a meeting and the result will be officially out in a day or two”, said Minister for health and family welfare U T Khader here on Tuesday November 4.
The minister said that this in the wake of rumours that the state government has passed an order on banning all chewing tobacco products in the state.
Khader clarified, “There is no ban for the time being. In future, the ban may be considered after studying all the consequences of tobacco, reasons for cancer and likewise. Government has not issued any order as of now,” he said.
Earlier, Union minister for health Harsh Vardhan had urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to ban all tobacco products in Karnataka. He had congratulated the state government for successfully banning gutka. Besides, Union Minister had appealed to Siddaramaiah to implement the ban on all forms of processed or flavoured/scented chewing tobacco products in the state.
“As of now, we will not issue ban on tobacco”, the minister said without denying the possibilities of implementations of such bans in the state in future.
On gutka ban in the state, Khader said the NGOs are conducting study on the pros and cons of the implementation of gutka ban. We are waiting for their reports, he added.
On doctor’s resignation
To a query, the Minister said that the government has written a letter to Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to appoint 983 PG doctors, 381 MBBS?doctors and over 3,000 paramedical staff, including 600 nurses. He said, “There is a shortage of 1,600 PG doctors, 321 MBBS?doctors and more than 600 nursing staff in the State”.
He said the government has increased the salary of PG doctors from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.10 lakh, MBBS?doctors will receive Rs 70,000 instead of Rs 52,000. The doctors who are working on contract basis will be regularized after three years of service, he promised.
Khader said 198 new ambulances will be available for the service in the state. Among them, State will provide 98 vehicles and the Central government will provide 100 ambulances.
