REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The newly elected Minister of Health, Nafsiah Mboi, promised to push the draft bill on the Impact of Tobacco proposed by the late minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, signed into law to lower the impact of tobacco. It took three years to discuss the draft bill and it also needed some negotiation between the Ministry of Health, related ministries, cigarette industries, and tobacco farmers.

"We will continuously support the draft bill. People should know that smoking give the bad impact, especially for children and pregnant woman," Nafsiah Mboi said on Thursday.

Earlier, Vice Minister of Health, Ali Gufron Mukti, said that the discussion of the draft bill had reached the final and it was sent to the president to be discussed on cabinet meeting. 

Nafsiah admitted that it was hard to control the tobacco in Indonesia because the country was one of the biggest producers of tobacco. Smoking is also a part of the traditional habit of Indonesian people. Some accuse that the big cigarette tax, which contributes to state income, is an obstacle for the ratification of the draft bill.

"This is a sensitive and complex problem, but we cannot tolerate the impact for women and children. It is true that cigarette companies absorb manpower, but the consequence for people is enormous," the minister said.

Cigarette gives the biggest contribution to many deadly illnesses, namely cancer and other cardiovascular disease. "My private research says that people who smoke in the younger age is more prone to addiction," she said.

Nafsiah also has some priorities following her inauguration. Her priorities are reaching Millennium Development Goals, enhancing people service, and giving social health insurance (Jamkesmas). She will discuss the priorities further.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika