NMC Asks Doctors To Take Health Ministry’s Approval For Research On e-Cigarettes

The move comes after DGHS Atul Goel asked the NMC to provide appropriate instructions to health professionals associated with the NMC and IMA.

Research on e-Cigarettes to be conducted after prior approval from ministry, says NMC (Representational Image)

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The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked doctors under it to refrain from indulging in research activities related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), without taking prior approval from the Union Ministry of Health. The move from the NMC comes following a letter from the directorate general of health services (DGHS) Atul Goel to the NMC, underlining the issue, and asking the commission to issue appropriate instructions to health professionals affiliated with the NMC and the Indian Medical Association (lMA). On December 15, the NMC released a public notice asking healthcare professionals to comply with Goel’s instructions. 

In a letter dated December 8, Goel said, "I am writing to address a matter of utmost importance concerning healthcare professional's engagement in research related to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs)," news agency PTI reported. He further underlined the unequivocal ban on the use of e-cigarettes, HTPs and such devices in India, through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Act, 2019 (PECA, 2019). 

"In light of this, it is imperative that all healthcare professionals affiliated with the NMC and the lMA refrain from initiating or participating in any research activities related to e-cigarettes and HTPs without obtaining the necessary approvals from the DGHS and the union health ministry," PTI quoted the letter sent to Dr B N Gangadhar, the officiating chairman of the NMC, as saying. 

"In this regard, I would request that necessary instructions please be issued to all healthcare professionals affiliated with the NMC and the IMA. I trust that the NMC and IMA can play a pivotal role in disseminating this directive among their members, emphasising the gravity of adherence to the ban on e-cigarettes and HTPs, and promoting responsible research within the healthcare community," it was further reported as saying. 

(With inputs from PTI)