Experts Suggest Including Smoking Cessation Treatment in Medical Insurance

Introduction: At present, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council is publicly soliciting comments on the draft Regulations on Controlling Smoking in Public Places. At a recent expert symposium organized by the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, some experts suggested that areas around schools should also be included in the smoke-free zone. At the same time, to help smokers quit smoking, smoking cessation treatment could be considered for inclusion in medical insurance coverage.

　　“After the draft tobacco control regulations was released, I was truly so happy that I couldn’t fall asleep even after midnight. I only managed to sleep after taking a sleeping pill. This is the most important achievement in our tobacco control work in many years!” said Xu Guihua, Executive Vice President of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, unable to hide her excitement while speaking at the expert symposium.

　　At the symposium, experts unanimously agreed that the introduction of the Regulations on Controlling Smoking in Public Places would be a milestone in China’s tobacco control history and would certainly accelerate China’s progress in fulfilling its tobacco control commitments. If these provisions can be fully and effectively implemented, they will provide the greatest possible protection for the public against the harms of tobacco smoke.

　　Although the draft regulations have received widespread praise within the industry, some detail-oriented experts still believe there is room for improvement. For example, renowned Chinese cardiovascular expert Hu Dayi believes that tobacco dependence should be clearly defined as a disease, and that nicotine dependence should be listed in medical records as a diagnosis, just like hypertension and diabetes. He also proposed that smoke-free public places should be included in the standards used by the National Health Commission and other government departments when evaluating hospitals, and should even serve as one of the veto indicators in assessments. In addition, he suggested that behavioral counseling and medication treatment for smoking cessation should be included in medical insurance reimbursement. At the very least, patients who already suffer from coronary heart disease, or who have undergone stent intervention, bypass surgery, or heart transplant surgery, should be guaranteed medical insurance coverage for smoking cessation treatment.

　　Some experts pointed out that minors are one of the tobacco industry’s target groups. According to surveys by relevant organizations, among 87 middle schools in Beijing’s Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Huairou, and Miyun districts and counties, tobacco retail outlets are densely concentrated within 100 meters of school campuses. In 58 of these schools, tobacco sales points were found within 100 meters outside the campus, accounting for two-thirds of the total. Middle school students can buy cigarettes very easily. In order to make cigarettes more affordable for children, some merchants even open packs and sell cigarettes individually. Therefore, experts suggested that the tobacco control regulations should add a provision stating that “the sale of tobacco is prohibited within 100 meters of schools, kindergartens, and youth centers.” In addition, the penalties in the “Regulations” for illegal tobacco sales are still considered too lenient, as they only impose “a fine of not less than one time and not more than five times the value of the goods.” This is still far too mild: “Some small shops open cigarette packs and sell single sticks to students for 0.5 yuan each. Even a fivefold fine would only amount to 2.5 yuan, which is nowhere near enough to serve as a deterrent.”