PESHAWAR: The Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) has inaugurated a smoking cessation clinic aimed at assisting individuals battling cigarette addiction, at the Outdoor Patient Department (OPD), offering services every Monday from 12 noon to 2pm.
During a recent meeting on a proposed action plan for legislative reforms regarding e-cigarettes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Ehtesham, from LRH's Pulmonology department, said the clinic's initial focus was on hospital staff. Treatment for smokers includes the administration of two different medicines based on nicotine addiction levels and withdrawal severity.
Dr. Ehtesham noted that approximately 23 percent of Pakistan's population consists of smokers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of smokers in Pakistan rose from around 24 million in 2018 to 27 million in 2024.
Chairing the meeting, Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Majid, commended the hospital's management and staff for establishment of the smoking cessation clinic. Meeting participants emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the hazards of smoking, particularly modern forms of addiction such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and sheesha.
Suggestions were made to organize seminars in educational institutions to educate students about the dangers of smoking. Additionally, participants proposed displaying anti-smoking messages on rickshaws, buses, bus stops, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations.