Tag: 30/5/24

Categories : Healthcare Politics and RegulationsTags :

BAT Calls for Progressive Regulation to Achieve a Smoke-free South Africa

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Sara Kurfess on Unsplash
  • As the globe recognises both World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day this month, BAT calls for regulatory framework that encourages adult smokers to switch to smokeless alternatives.
  • South Africa’s adult smoking prevalence is growing; studies suggest switching exclusively to reduced risk¹ alternatives could significantly reduce smoking related disease associated with smoking.
  • BAT advocates for regulatory principles focused on adult-only access, product quality, and enforcement, while investing in smokeless products.

BAT, a leading tobacco and nicotine products company, publicly re-affirmed its position that no underage person should use nicotine products. As such, the Company has called for a regulatory framework in South Africa that encourages adult smokers to switch to smokeless alternatives and that facilitates the robust prevention of underage access.

The smoking prevalence among adults in South Africa is 27.4%², which seems to be growing. This is partly attributable to the rampant sale of illicit cigarettes across the country, which BAT South Africa’s internal estimates put at around 70% of the market. More than 9.7 million² people in South Africa continue to smoke, despite the serious risks. According to population modelling studies³, a significant reduction in smoking related disease could be achieved if smokers switched exclusively to reduced risk¹ alternatives.

Dr Edward Makgotlho, Area Head of Scientific Affairs for BAT Sub-Saharan Africa, said:

“We believe that underage consumers should never use nicotine, and the role of regulation in helping to ensure this is vital. As well as mandating appropriate age limits, age verification solutions need to be introduced at points of sale, and the importance of enforcing regulation cannot, and should not, be forgotten.”

BAT has set out four principles that should be applied in South Africa for effective and impactful regulation relating to smokeless tobacco and nicotine products:

1.      Consumer access to relevant products: Regulations in all countries where cigarettes are sold should also allow a wide range of smokeless alternatives, to ensure that consumers can access these alternatives and make informed choices about switching, based on the best available scientific evidence.

2.      Adult-only consumers: The use and sale of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products by and to underage consumers should be prohibited by law.

3.      Product quality and safety: Robust and properly enforced quality and safety standards should be at the heart of regulation, to protect consumers.

4.      Robust enforcement: Regulation should provide enforcement authorities with the necessary powers to apply penalties and sanctions to those who fail to comply with regulations, particularly those who supply non-compliant products and provide product to those who are underage.

Countries that have implemented regulation that recognises the harm reduction potential of smokeless products and support their use for adult smokers have experience a rapid decline in smoking. The United Kingdom, United States and Japan are all reporting their lowest smoking rates on record, while Sweden is on track to declare itself smoke-free this year – 16 years ahead of the European Union’s 2040 target.

“The migration of smokers to these alternatives is crucial both for countries looking to reduce their smoking rates and for global public health more broadly. Whether or not governments are able to take advantage of these products and maximise their harm reduction potential depends as much on the implementation of progressive, risk-proportionate regulation as it does on changes in consumer behaviour,” said Dr Makgotlho.

BAT’s global purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. This commitment is demonstrated in various ways, including the Company’s investment of more than R6.9 billion a year in the development of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products, which are sold in 75+ markets globally, including South Africa.

References:

1.       Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk-free and are addictive.

2.       BATSA market research as at 2024, conducted by an external market research house.

3.       Camacho OM & Ebajemito J, et al. 2021. Evidence from the Scientific Assessment of Electronic Cigarettes’ Role in Tobacco Harm Reduction. Contributions to Tobacco & Nicotine Research, 30(2): 63-108. Available: https://doi.org/10.2478/cttr-2021-0007

Levy DT & Gartner C, et al. 2023. The Australia Smoking and Vaping Model: the Potential Impact of Increasing Access to Nicotine Vaping Products. Journal of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25(3): 486-497. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac210

Yach D & Human D, et al. 2023. Integrating Harm Reduction into Tobacco Control. SmokeFreeSweden.org. Available: https://smokefreesweden.org/lives-saved.pdf

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Enhancing Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy by Striking at the Right Time

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Malvestida on Unsplash

A multidisciplinary research team at the University of California, Irvine has revealed that the circadian clock can be leveraged to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor cancer therapy. Checkpoint inhibitors block different proteins from binding to tumour cells, allowing the immune system’s T cells to kill the tumour.

The study, published online today in the journal Nature Immunology, provides deeper insights into the intricate relationship among the circadian clock, immune regulation and tumour development and found that a therapeutic approach optimising time-of-day delivery based on an individual’s unique circadian patterns offers new avenues for prevention and treatment.

“Disruption of the internal biological pacemaker is an inherent aspect of modern society that may contribute to the rising incidence of many cancer types. We found that proper regulation of circadian rhythms is necessary to suppress inflammation and support peak immune function,” said corresponding author Selma Masri, UC Irvine associate professor of biological chemistry. “Understanding precisely how circadian disruption promotes disease progression could lead to behaviour modification to reduce cancer risk.”

Team members used an advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technique in a genetic model of colorectal cancer and identified clock-dependent changes controlling the number of myeloid-derived cells that suppress T cell activation. They discovered that disruption of the internal clock in the epithelial cells lining the intestine alters secretion of cytokine proteins, leading to heightened inflammation, increased numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and cancer progression. These findings were leveraged to demonstrate that providing immunotherapy at the time of day when these immunosuppressive myeloid cells are most abundant significantly enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in solid tumours.

“As we enhance our understanding of the fundamental mechanism of circadian regulation of immunity, we will be able to harness the power of the body’s natural rhythms to fight cancer and develop more personalised and effective treatment strategies,” said lead author Bridget Fortin, a UC Irvine doctoral student in the Department of Biological Chemistry.

While this study represents a significant step forward in defining circadian control of anti-tumour immunity, the team believes future research should focus on exploring additional factors and cell types influencing time-of-day response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Source: University of California – Irvine

Categories : Healthcare Politics and Regulations IT in HealthcareTags :

Earn CPD Points with EthiQal’s Webinar on Record Keeping

On By ModernMedia

On Wednesday 5 June at 18:00, EthiQal cordially invites you to attend their ethics webinar, “Documenting care: Effective record-keeping and requests for records”.

Hosted by Dr Hlombe Makuluma, Medicolegal Advisor at EthiQal, this webinar will be co-presented by two admitted attorneys, Mashooma Parker and Jessica Viljoen, who are both legal advisors within the claims team at EthiQal. The 90-minute session will cover compliance for record-keeping requirements as well as dealing with requests for patient records from patients and third parties.

Participants will gain valuable insights to ethically enhance their practice’s visibility and reach, fostering responsible and compliant advertising practices.

Mashooma Parker is a skilled Legal Advisor within the Claims & Legal team at EthiQal, specialising in medical malpractice. With a strong background in the legal field and a passion for assisting healthcare practitioners, Mashooma brings a wealth of expertise to navigate the complexities that arise with patients and third parties. Hosting the first topic, She will cover the requirements for healthcare practitioners to ensure quality record-keeping compliance with Booklet 9 of the HPCSA’s Ethical Guidelines.

Jessica Viljoen is an admitted attorney and legal advisor specialising in professional indemnity insurance for healthcare practitioners, and medical malpractice law. With her extensive experience within the medico-legal space, including her years of litigation experience, Jessica leverages her industry knowledge to provide legal advice and assistance to all specialties of medical practitioners throughout South Africa. She will present the second part of the talk, which will deal with Patient and Third-party requests for patient records and how to ensure compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000.

The speakers will offer some useful tips from a medico-legal risk management perspective for health practitioners to be cognisant of, as well as to work through some practical examples to illustrate the importance of the topic.

At least one hour’s attendance on the Zoom Platform is required to earn CPD points, and for those unable to watch it live, a recording will be made available.

Click here to register now