(Image source from: Smoking costs more than marked price in the cigarette})

If you thought that cigarette smoking costs you only what is printed on the MRP of the cigarette pack, think again. Consuming cigarettes and other tobacco products has a huge financial burden that affects the family of the smoker.

A survey conducted by DNA, Pune on cigarette smoking effects revealed the economic implications of this life threatening habit.

Ramesh Dixit, 52, (name changed on request) had been a smoker for two decades of his life that cost him more than Rs 10,000 monthly in cigarettes, alcohol and other tobacco products. Two years ago he was diagnosed with oral cancer and had to spend Rs 12 lakh on treatment.  He not only deprieved his family of a sizeable income every month, but also spent another huge amount for the treatment of a disease for which he was himself responsible. Ramesh Dixit is only one such example, where the habit of tobacco use and its associated illnesses like cancer puts a huge financial burden on lakhs of families.

The government continues with the sale of tobacco because of the huge revenue it generates. So on World No Tobacco Day 2014, doctors in Pune are demanding a sixeable increase in taxes to curb the use of tobacco products.

Oncologists say that monetary loss is not the only cost that cancer patients go through. Most tobacco addicts also need to undergo a psychological rehabilitation.

Dr Bhushan Zade, consultant radiation oncologist at Ruby Hall, says that the cost of treatment depends on the intensity of the disease. Smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products causes cancers of lungs, oral cavity, nasal cavity, pancreas and gut. The cost of treatment for each type of cancer varies between Rs 15,000 to several lakhs. Not only that, some oral cancer patients may have to spend an additional amount of money for plastic surgery or jaw restructuring.

According to the survey, a chain smoker who smokes upto 15 cigarettes in a day is likely to spend over  Rs 3,600 a month. While an average cigarette smoker, who smokes five in a day would be spending about Rs 1,500 a month.

Another survey conducted by Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, oncologist at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital   revealed that four out of ten youngsters in between 14 to 16 years of age consumed tobacco, while in the age group of 16 and 18 years almost 31% consumed tobacco. Not only that, 70% of these consumers were fully aware about the ill effects of tobacco consumption.

On World No Tobacco Day 2014, WHO and its partners have called on countries to increase taxes on tobacco to curb the menace of this cancer causing product. The primarily focus on World No Tobacco Day is to encourage users to avoid tobacco consumption for at least 24 hours.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)