Latest news with #lunghealth
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Huge call to ban cigarettes in Coles and Woolworths - what you need to know
Anthony Albanese faces a huge call to ban cigarettes from supermarkets in the latest move to clamp down on smoking. Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke is calling on the government to bring in new legislation as he branded supermarkets 'irresponsible' for selling cigarettes. 'We need everyone from government to big corporations to put the lung health of Australians ahead of profits from a product that kills 66 Australians daily,' he said. 'Previous news reports have highlighted Coles estimates their cigarette sales each year is enough to kill more than 1,600 Australians and cause tobacco-related medical costs of more than $300 million a year.' It follows a new licensing scheme which is set to take effect across New South Wales from July 1. Aussies may soon no longer be able to buy cigarettes during their weekly grocery shops as restrictions on smoking increase. The new scheme requires all tobacco retailers and wholesalers to have a license to sell tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products in the state. In NSW it is also illegal for any retailers other than a pharmacy to sell any type of vaping good, regardless of its nicotine content. Lung Foundation Australia has urged the federal government to follow suit and introduce legislation that would cover the entire country. 'The federal government can support broader efforts by investigating the health and economic impacts of a generational phase out of tobacco products,' Lung Foundation Australia said. more to come
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Lung foundation calls for supermarkets to be banned from selling tobacco
Supermarkets should be banned from selling cigarettes, the Lung Foundation of Australia says. The foundation has floated the ban as a means to stop smokers being tempted to buy a pack or a pouch alongside their groceries. 'We need everyone from government to big corporations to put the lung health of Australians ahead of profits from a product that kills 66 Australians daily,' foundation chief executive Mark Brooke said. 'Previous news reports have highlighted Coles estimates their cigarette sales each year is enough to kill more than 1600 Australians and cause tobacco-related medical costs of more than $300m a year.' Former smoker Sarah Waters has joined the campaign for cigarettes to be banned from supermarkets. Ms Waters started smoking aged 13, and continued for nearly 30 years. 'It isn't easy to quit but not being able to buy cigarettes so easily would have made a big difference. When I started smoking there was no age limits in place, and they were marketed to young people as being cool.' Prince Charles Hospital thoracic physician Henry Marshall said nicotine is as addictive as heroin. 'The difference is you can't buy heroin with your weekly shopping.' 'It is hard to fight an addiction while also being able to buy tobacco products so easily.' Professor Marshall has thrown his voice behind the lung foundation's calls for a ban. 'People who smoke deserve more help from health professionals and the government,' he said. 'I would like to see people demand action from the multinational tobacco companies who have known smoking causes lung cancer since before 1954 and continued to sell products to make profit off Australians. It is time we said, 'enough is enough'.' The Lung Foundation is calling for the government to ban supermarkets from selling tobacco products. In response, Coles said in a statement it is providing smokers with a legal way to obtain tobacco. 'Coles complies with all Commonwealth, State and Territory laws aimed at minimising the negative health effects of tobacco use, however we recognise the need to provide choice to those customers who wish to purchase these products legally,' a spokesperson told NewsWire. Woolworths has been approached for comment. Earlier this year, IGA reported it had lost $150m of revenue over three years, as tobacco black market sales skyrocketed across the country. Australians have comprehensively turned to the black market for cigarettes and tobacco, as the tax on legal smokes becomes unaffordable. The taxes the federal government takes from tobacco have plummeted from $16.3bn five years ago, to $7.4bn this year. Smoking rates have fallen from 20 per cent of the population in 2001, to about 8 per cent now, the latest government data shows.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sanofi Shares Fall on Mixed Lung Disease Drug Results
Sanofi 's shares fell following mixed results of its experimental drug for a deadly lung condition. Itepekimab, a medicine that is being jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron, is being tested as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in former smokers. Two late stage trials showed contrasting results, Sanofi said Friday, with one showing a reduction in worsening of the condition — called exacerbations — of 27%. The other trial didn't show the same benefit despite having shown it earlier in the study.
CBC
7 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Lung program's success in rural N.S. leads to expansion
Nova Scotia has some of the highest rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the country. A researcher at Acadia University started up an online program to make sure lung patients in rural communities get the help they need. Now that pilot program is set to expand across the Maritimes. Carolyn Ray reports.
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Malaysia makes history as WHO adopts lung health resolution, says health minister
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — A landmark resolution on lung health by Malaysia has been officially adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in conjunction with the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, Switzerland. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the adoption of the resolution was a historic achievement and a great success for Malaysia in global health leadership. 'Alhamdulillah, the official mission to Geneva in conjunction with WHA78 has been completed successfully. Last night I returned to the country with a stronger spirit and a stronger determination,' he said in a Facebook post today. Dzulkefly said that while in Geneva, he also represented Malaysia as the host at a side event during the WHA78 to advance oral health in Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He said various strategic meetings were held with international health organisations such as WHO, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), Rare Disease International (RDI), Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). Dzulkefly, who led the Malaysian delegation to WHA78 in Geneva from May 18 to 22, said bilateral meetings were also held with counterparts or health representatives from Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Palestine, Brunei and Norway to strengthen health cooperation between countries. According to him, Malaysia also voiced its commitment to vaccine equity, pandemic preparedness and the One Health agenda at the regional level. 'Every step and exchange in Geneva brings a clear message — Malaysia is not only following the global health trend, but also leading, driving and shaping a common direction. 'Thank you to all strategic partners, delegation members, and staff of the Ministry of Health who worked hard to make this mission a success,' he said. — Bernama
