23rd September, 2025
On 23rd September 2025, a meeting was held with Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, I.A.S., Health Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand, to discuss strategies for strengthening and effectively implementing the Article 5.3 policy in the state.
The discussion centered on safeguarding public health policies from tobacco industry interference and enhancing interdepartmental coordination for compliance with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Key points included the establishment of a state-level coordination mechanism, sensitization of officials across departments, and adoption of measures to ensure transparency in government–industry interactions.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar appreciated the initiatives of the Resource Centre for Tobacco Control (RCTC), PGIMER, Chandigarh, and assured continued support for institutionalizing Article 5.3 implementation to strengthen tobacco control governance in Uttarakhand.
