OP037 CASE STUDY: VOICE OF TOBACCO VICTIMS SUCCESS WITH INDIAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

Background: Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) is a campaign lead by patients and their families who share their heart wrenching stories with the policy makers. The doctor who has treated the patient is also part of the platform, one to reassure the victim and second to provide clinical support for the statement made by the victims. In the VoTV, doctors are often referred as patrons. The victims not only present their story and the impact tobacco had on their lives, they also advocate for adoption of and implementation of effective tobacco control policy. To curb this menace it is necessary to mobilise the key stakeholder so as to have strong lobby while doing advocacy with policy makers or key stakeholders. Objective: The objectives were to involve the professional body like Indian Dental Association to be a part of the campaign and make its presence felt. Method: VoTV networked and got associated with the Indian Dental Association. The professional association are representatives nationally with branches at state and local level all over India. Liaising with such body proved to be vital to garner support for lobbying with policy makers for effective tobacco control at local, state and national level Result: Indian Dental association of Uttarpradesh and Assam filed a Public Interest Litigation for the Gutka Ban in the respective state. Furthermore it also became party in the Ankur Gutka case. IDA through its state branch participated in the VoTV chapter of Bihar. IDA at national level launched a campaign addressing the prime minister to ban packaged and flavoured smokeless tobacco product. In Maharashtra, results shared with the high court on the prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis were taken into account while fighting for gutka and pan masala ban. Conclusion: Involving key stakeholders like dentist through IDA is vital for advocacy campaign. The professional body represent the society and their voice put a lot of pressure on policy makers where there is lax in implementation of policy