Turkish Health Minister Warns 120,000 Die Annually from Smoking
Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu has presented alarming figures concerning the impact of smoking on public health in Turkey. According to the Minister, smoking is responsible for the deaths of 120,000 Turks every year. Memişoğlu highlighted that tobacco use has led to Turkey ranking first globally in lung cancer rates.
The Minister also noted that smoking is a primary cause of other severe health problems, including respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and brain haemorrhages. The economic burden is also substantial; statistics show the average per capita expenditure on cigarettes in Turkey is $1024, surpassing the per capita health expenditure of $840. This places Turkey as the second most smoking-affected country worldwide in terms of economic impact.
Despite these grim statistics, Memişoğlu stated that the government does not plan a total ban on smoking. Instead, the Health Ministry aims to achieve results through close cooperation with society to reduce smoking rates and help people quit. The Minister expressed the ministry' s readiness to lead this effort and urged the population to participate in a national campaign to create a united front against tobacco for better public health.
Source: Star
