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General News of Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Source: GNA

Public Health and Tobacco Control Bill before Cabinet

Accra, July 6, GNA - The Ministry of Health on Tuesday said the Tobacco Control Bill which formed part of the Public Health Bill was before Cabinet for consideration and onward submission to Parliament for approval. A statement issued by the Ministry in Accra and signed by Mr Dan Osman Mwin, Head of Public Relations, said it was in reaction to prevailing misinformation being put out by a section of the media. "The misinformation is that the Tobacco Control Bill is still lying on the shelf of the Attorney General's Department and that Ghana has breached the World health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) commitment". The Ministry assured the public that Ghana was in conformity with the treaty it ratified in 2004 as adopted in 2005 and would continue to abide by it. "Indeed the Ministry is fully aware that the Public Health Bill, if approved, would seek to provide a comprehensive legislation on public health and is therefore leaving no stone unturned to get the Bills approved by Parliament to bring about equal opportunity for all in the health delivery system," the statement said. "It should be noted that the Public Health Bill is among several health bills receiving Cabinet consideration and the Ministry would continue to follow the laid down procedures to get the various Bills passed," it added. The statement said "The Ministry's doors are opened at all times for enquiries on the matter". 6 July 10