Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra has stressed that tobacco poses a severe threat to public health. Addressing the gathering at the event organized to mark World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi on Friday, Mr. Chandra highlighted that in India, tobacco-related diseases cause 13 lakh preventable deaths annually, which leads to significant economic burdens on the country’s healthcare system. He added that the government is continuously taking decisive action and enacting measures at local, national, regional, and global levels to address the critical issue of tobacco use in the country. He further announced the government’s key focus areas for tobacco control initiatives in 2024, including strict enforcement of the national tobacco control law COTPA 2003, intensified awareness campaigns, and creating a tobacco-free environment.