Published on: May 31, 2025
Tobacco Control Training for Security Personnel under COTPA Act, 2003
In an effort to strengthen tobacco control measures within the healthcare setting and move towards a tobacco-free campus, a training session under the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003 was organized for the security personnel of Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) on 28th May 2025. The initiative was conducted by the Department of Community Medicine, in collaboration with Balajee Seva Sansthan, Dehradun, and witnessed enthusiastic participation from the hospital’s frontline staff.
The training was aimed to sensitize security staff to the health hazards of tobacco use, educate them on the provisions and enforcement of the COTPA Act, strengthen their role as frontline enforcers in creating a tobacco-free hospital environment and promote vigilance and ensure strict implementation of anti-tobacco norms on campus.
The session was led by Ms. Mamta Thapa, representative from Balaji Seva Sansthan, Dehradun, was focused on an overview of the COTPA Act and its importance in public spaces, roles and responsibilities of security personnel in preventing tobacco use within hospital premises and real-life case studies and examples of successful enforcement strategies. The session was followed by an engaging question and answer session, where security guards raised queries and shared their experiences related to tobacco use enforcement.
A total of 30 security guards attended the training and actively participated in the interactive session. Certificates of participation were distributed to all attendees in recognition of their role in supporting the hospital’s mission of a tobacco-free environment.
The training marked a significant step in the implementation of tobacco control policies at HIMS. Security personnel, being the first point of contact for all visitors and staff, were empowered to play a proactive role in discouraging tobacco use on campus. The Department of Community Medicine plans to conduct regular reinforcement sessions and collaborate with Balaji Seva Sansthan for further outreach and awareness initiatives to make SRHU a model tobacco-free institution.
