GCC countries set for total ban on e-cigarettes

A blanket ban on the import and sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is on the cards in the GCC countries, with a recommendation to this effect by the 70th conference of GCC Health Ministers Council which concluded here yesterday.

A statement issued by the conference underlined the “necessity for imposing a total ban” on e-cigarettes in line with the WHO guidelines and the findings of recent studies on the product.

Anti-smoking activists in the region have been campaigning for a ban on e-cigarettes, which are used as an alternative for traditional cigarettes, on grounds that it is more dangerous to the users compared to the traditional cigarettes.

WHO has disputed claims by producers of e-cigarettes that it helps people quit smoking and has warned of its harmful effects.

The Doha conference also expressed concern over the rising number of women smokers in the Gulf region and called for more efforts to raise awareness on the issue.

The conference urged the member countries to set up national centres for organ donation and transplant and conduct studies on major diseases that lead to kidney failures.

The importance of promoting the culture of organ donation in the region and co-operation between the member countries in donation and transfer of organs was also highlighted. The meeting called on the member countries to provide governmental support and funding to such activities.

The ministers lauded the Doha Declaration on organ donation and the successful Saudi experience in organ transplantation.

Regarding an earlier proposal to unify the prices of imported medicines in the GCC countries, the meeting decided to conduct further studies on the issue and forwarded it to the committee concerned.

The meeting urged member countries to establish a database on all medicines sold in the GCC market. A meeting would be held in Kuwait to discuss this issue. All member countries have been asked to update their database regularly. The ministers approved a five-year strategic plan on nursing aimed at addressing the shortage of qualified nursing professionals in the region. The meeting recommended setting up a specialised Gulf body to promote the nursing profession. The conference called on member countries to implement the concept of pharmacy care in private and public sectors.

The ministers decided to intensify monitoring on the approved medical centres in various Asian and African countries conducting health check ups for workers being recruited to the Gulf countries. The Peninsula