Smoking 3rd Most Risky Factor Behind Deaths In Thailand

NHSO ready to help smokers quit

By The Nation

At least 11 million Thai people are smokers and some 50,000 of them suffer from tobaccorelated illnesses on a yearly basis, which results in the country losing Bt51.5 billion every year, the Health Professional Network for Tobaccofree Thai Society Network revealed yesterday.

The network president Somsri Paosawat said that smoking was the third most risky factor behind deaths in Thailand, after unsafe sex and drinking. She went on to say that nortriptyline, a drug that helps people quit smoking, is included in the national list of essential medicines. A smoker needs 270 tablets, which go for Bt1 each, to give up the habit, she said, adding that the universal health scheme also covered treatment for tobacco addiction.

National Health Security Office (NHSO) chief, Dr Winai Sawasdivorn, said those with an NHSO "gold card" who wanted to kick the habit could apply for the treatment at hospitals.

Their comments were made ahead of the annual World AntiSmoking Day, which is marked on May 31 every year.

 

Yes. Exactly.

There aren't any statistics about long term foreign residents in Thailand.