Special units to help quit smoking

The Health Ministry is setting up special units to help smokers quit their unhealthy habit, relieve patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other lung diseases of symptoms arising from such diseases.

“These Specialised Respiratory units are the need of the hour”, President, Sri Lanka Pulmonary Association and Consultant Physician, National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases, Welisara, Dr Saman Kularatne told the Sunday Observer. “The Health Ministry has decided to give it the highest priority due to the sharp rise in COPD and other lung diseases in the cities and outside”.

CA