The Nagaland government has banned smoking or use of tobacco products within hospital premises and prohibited sales of tobacco products within 100 meters from any hospital with effect from February 1, 2023.
The Department of Health & Family Welfarethat notified that Section 4 & 6 (b) of Cigarettes and other tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and commerce) Acts 2003 prohibits smoking in public places and sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of any educational institution respectively.
It also said that all health centres come under the purview of public places and also all health centres are considered as learning centres and come under the purview of educational institutions and contravention of the Provision of the Act by any person is punishable by law.
The department stated, "In exercise of the power conferred by Section 4 and 6 of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Acts 2003 and also considering the ever-increasing disease burden attributed to tobacco use, the state government declares all district hospitals, community health centres (CHC), primary health centres(PHC), sub-centres(SC), Chief Medical Officer (CMO) offices, Medical Superintendent (MS) offices, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and Directorate of Health & Family Welfare as Tobacco-Free Zone and henceforth smoking, using of tobacco products within the hospital premises and sale of tobacco products within 100 meters from any hospital is prohibited with effect from February 1, 2023".
The principal director, all heads of offices in charge of hospitals, CMOs, MS and nursing-in-charge have been authorised to take action against anybody who contravenes the provision of Section 4 and 6 (b) of COTPA 2003 within their jurisdiction.
