More than a year after the launch of the Ministry of Health's 'Tak Nak' anti-smoking campaign , it is disheartening to note that the campaign is in trouble.

Although it is welcome that the ministry officials have acknowledged this and are willing to change direction, there were already cautions raised before the campaign was launched.

In a meeting organised by the ministry a few months before the 'Tak Nak' campaign was to be launched, members from various NGOs, including CAP, were invited to give their views on the campaign.

At that meeting, experienced doctors, including a psychiatrist - representing established NGOs - voiced serious doubts about the effectiveness of the campaign. They also queried why they were not invited much earlier to give their input.

Their concerns should have been seriously explored at that point, rather than proceeding right on with the 'Tak Nak' So much time, human effort and precious funds could have been saved.

It is hoped that other Health Ministry projects will not follow similar trends.

The writer is the president of the Consumers Association of Penang.