South Korea: Anti-smoking Research Center Eyed

Source from:  Korea Times 04/09/2015

The Ministry of Health plans to set up its own research center dedicated to studying the harmful effects of smoking in an apparent bid to win an ongoing legal battle with tobacco companies.

The ministry said Wednesday that the research center, which will be supervised by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDCP), will open as early as July.

Although the ministry did not mention a damages suit filed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) against tobacco companies - KT&G, Philip Morris and British American Tobacco - data from the new research center is expected to support the NHIS' side.

While the health risks of tobacco are well-known, health authorities have had to rely largely on other countries' research data in making policies about smoking and managing court disputes over issues relating to it because they do not have their own.

In cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the KCDCP will look into how exactly components of cigarette smoke affect the human body. The ministry said it has already secured 4 billion won ($35 million) for the project.

"For now, tobacco companies analyze the ingredients of their products and reveal the results. That is not an ideal system for safety management," a ministry official said. "If the country can prove their health effects for itself, it will be able to collect more reliable materials."

Ultimately, the research center is expected to help the ministry's effort to curb the nation's smoking rate by providing scientific data, said the official.

Cigarette makers here are required to reveal the amount of tar and nicotine only. Critics have long said other harmful components should be disclosed.

There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes, experts say. When burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.

In 2012, researchers from the University of Alicante analyzed 10 brands of cigarettes and found that the concentrations of certain harmful and carcinogenic substances vary significantly from one brand to another.

"So far, the government has only focused on studying the effects of smokers based on surveys," a KCDCP official said. "Smoking is known to be harmful, but we still lack evidence to prove it."

Last year, the NHIS sued cigarette makers for at least 53.7 billion won as compensation for healthcare costs linked to smoking-related diseases.

The lawsuit marks the first time a national agency has sought damages against an industry.

After the companies denied direct relationships between smoking and diseases, the NHIS is now working to prove it with the results of studies, assistance from experts and cooperation with international bodies, including the World Health Organization.

Their fourth court hearing is scheduled for May 15. Enditem