3 September 1997
State picks up enormous tab caused by smoking related illnesses
By Tom Shiel
The country's eight Health Boards are considering suing tobacco manufacturers for compensation because of the huge cost involved in looking after patients who are suffering health problems because of cigarette consumption.
Smoking is blamed for many serious ailments including cancer and heart disease and the annual cost to the State for treating smoking related illnesses is enormous and a drain on scarce resources.
There have been moves in the United States to sue tobacco manufacturers and it has now emerged that legal action is also being contemplated here.
Mr. Eamon Hannan, CEO of the Western Health Board (WHB) told a Board meeting in Swinford on Monday that he had long been of the opinion that cigarette advertising should be banned.
Legal action
Mr. Hannan revealed that the CEO's of the various Health Boards were considering the possibility of legal action. He explained: "I can't say if it will be possible to to bring a case against the manufacturers. We need the solicitors' answer on this".
Referring to the health problems caused by smoking, Mr. Hannan stated: "If we are serious about this as a nation we should ban all advertising of tobacco".
Health Board members dwelt at length on the hazards of tobacco. The matter arose during a discussion on "European Week Against Cancer" which will run from October 6th to October 11th.
Roscommon Board member, Mr. Terry Leyden highlighted the serious health problems associated with smoking and suggested the Government instigate legal action against health companies to recoup the huge cost of treating smoking related illnesses.
Long-term effect
Another Roscommon member, Dr. Greg Kelly (Castlerea) warned that the grim effects of cigarette smoking for those beginning to smoke now would be felt in about 20 years time.
"If we are serious about this why not ban tobacco importation altogether", Dr. Kelly stated. But Board members shied away from calling for a total ban on tobacco importation. Mr. Leyden pointed out that prohibition of alcohol had not worked in the States. If there was a ban on tobacco importation, the black market would flourish, he warned.
Mayo Board member, Councillor Padraig Cosgrove also dissented saying that bans had been imposed before but as soon as the bans were in place we ignored them.
Another Mayo member, Dr. Diarmuid McLoughlin (Swinford) suggested that public houses have a no-smoking area as passive smoking had been proved to be as dangerous to health as actual smoking.
The Health Board has formulated a wide programme of events and activities for National Cancer Week focussing particularly on cancers in women, particularly breast, cervical, skin, bowel and lung cancers.
