Doctors hail ‘anti-smoking’ Vape Bill as landmark legislation

Dr. Fernando Fernandez, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Dental Federation

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine doctors once again rallied support behind the Vape Bill and hailed the same as a landmark legislation on public health that is seen to drastically lower down the smoking rates in the country.

“I was able to stop smoking because of alternatives like vape products and heated tobacco products. If these products are properly regulated, like what the Vape Bill seeks to do, there is a big chance that millions of Filipino smokers will also stop smoking and shift to these less harmful nicotine alternatives”, said Dr. Telesforo Gana, past president of the Philippine Urological Association.

Former Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, one of the main authors of the Vape Bill in Congress, revealed that no less than the World Health Organization noted that vape products and heated tobacco products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

“I remember in one of our forums, the WHO scientist-representative I questioned was forced to admit that vape/HTP products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes”, Deputy Speaker Marcoleta recalled.

The Vape Bill is touted by many as a landmark public health legislation as it is the first comprehensive law that will regulate vape products and heated tobacco products and is seen to drastically cut down smoking rates for the years to come.

The medical and scientific communities believe that the passage of the Vape Bill will be a historic milestone that will become part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s legacy.  “Once enacted into law, it will reinforce the concerted efforts to end the smoking epidemic once and for all, and help save countless lives,” they said.

“I strongly believe that with proper regulation of vape and heated tobacco products under the Vape Bill, many smokers, including those patients of mine, will be able to stop smoking once and for all. I also support the more than 15 provisions of the Vape Bill that seeks to protect our minors from even starting to use this product. The Vape Bill is definitely a big win for public health,” said Dr. Fernando Fernandez, Past President of the Philippine Dental Association and current Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation.

The last comprehensive law to regulate tobacco products was enacted almost 20 years ago when the Tobacco Regulation Act was passed in 2003 following a massive public campaign called “Yosi Kadiri” by the late health secretary and senator Juan Flavier. Since then, there are still close to 16 million smokers in the country today with a very low annual quit rate of 4 percent.

“Without the Vape Bill, 16 million smokers will continue to smoke and there will be thousands more that will start smoking every year. This is unacceptable from a public health standpoint. We must do everything we can to end the smoking epidemic once and for all and the Vape Bill is our greatest chance to do that. The Vape Bill is our first real anti-smoking measure since the Tobacco Regulation Act was enacted 20 years ago”, said Dr. Dante Dator, former executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

A recent survey conducted by ACORN Marketing and Research Consultants, the largest independent Asian research network, has shown that 94 percent of Filipinos agree that the government should enact policies to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful tobacco alternatives.

“Within the medical community, many doctors whether smokers or non-smokers, support legislation that will cut down smoking rates, which includes the use of less harmful alternatives such as vape and heated tobacco products. I think this is also what the public wants especially those members of family households that are sick and tired of smelling cigarette smoke. Indeed, a very comprehensive regulatory law such as the Vape Bill is what we need to cut down smoking rates”, said Dr. Romeo Luna Jr., president of the San Juan Medical Center Staff Association and a practicing surgeon.

The Vape Bill includes several bans that are meant to protect minors. First, there is a ban on the use of flavor descriptors, in addition to the current ban on use of flavors. Second, there is a ban on the sale of high nicotine vape products (more than 65mg/ml nicotine content). Third, there is a ban on the use of celebrities and social media influences in advertising and promotional materials. Fourth, there is a ban on the sale of vape products within 100 meters of schools, playgrounds and facilities frequented especially by minors.

/MUF