REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- George Institute for Global Health stated that lung cancer was a top killer of men in the Southeast Asia (ASEAN), while breast cancer caused high mortality rates among women. Lung cancer was occurred mostly due to unhealthy lifestyles, particularly smoking.

"The cigarette industry in Indonesia were developing so that Indonesia has the cheapest cigarette prices, on average only one US dollar per pack," said Advisory Profesorial from the George Institute, Mark Woodward, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Sunday (23/8).

Woodward said cancer is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. If someone ignores cancer, then one day the person will be part of the disease.

The price of cigarettes in Indonesia was the cheapest in Southeast Asia. Making the cigarettes were easy to obtain and consumed by adults, teenagers, and even children. Woodward, who was also Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Oxford, said the majority of smokers in Indonesia were those who had lower economic income.

"The selling price of cigarettes should be three times more expensive. The state revenues may be reduced, but healthy young generation will increase," he said.

Professor of the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), University of Indonesia, Professor Hasbullah Thabrany, said the health budget prepared by the government in Indonesia was still low compared to the risk of diseases that threaten. He cited that the total cigarette sales in Indonesia reached Rp 400 trillion per year, while the government's health budget was only Rp 23.5 trillion.

"Indonesian youth on average consumed 1,400 cigarettes per year," he said.

The current government had not the courage to raise the price of cigarettes. The government concern towards the industry was evidenced by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that not yet ratified.

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