Asem Mansour, Chief Executive Officer at King Hussein Cancer Center, shared on LinkedIn:
“Mansour to Government: Shisha Revenues Cannot Offset the Cost of Cancer Treatment
Ammon News – Dr. Asem Mansour, Director General of King Hussein Cancer Center, commented on the recommendations recently circulated under the title of the ‘Committee for the Study of Shisha Service Provision in Public Places,’ which were submitted to the Prime Ministry to regulate establishments that provide shisha services. Mansour said that, if the published recommendations are accurate, they run counter to the government’s stated policy in this area.
He stressed that granting businesses discounts on renewal fees or allowing them additional time to rectify their status would, in practice, facilitate the spread of shisha and increase its use. This cannot, under any circumstances, be considered a public benefit, and it would undermine the positive steps taken by the government to regulate the sale of tobacco to individuals under the age of 18 and to prohibit smoking in public places.
He further explained that, if confirmed, these recommendations would constitute a violation of the Public Health Law, which requires a complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places, including hospitality establishments such as restaurants, cafés, and others.
Mansour noted that King Hussein Cancer Center witnesses the true cost of tobacco every day, through the growing number of patients being diagnosed at young ages, families unable to bear the costs of treatment, and a healthcare system that ultimately pays a price many times higher. He emphasized that no immediate financial gain generated by this sector can compensate for these losses.”
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