Itanagar, May 21 -- In a major public health initiative, the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, has officially declared all hospital and healthcare premises across the State as strict "Tobacco-Free Zones" with effect from May 19, 2026.
The directive, issued under the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, applies to all government hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), sub-centres, medical colleges and private healthcare facilities across Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the order issued by Commissioner (Health & Family Welfare) Pawan Kumar Sain, the use of any form of tobacco - including smoking, chewing tobacco, gutkha and paan ma...