International meet urge govts to take bold steps to end tobacco use
Tobacco use continues to kill over seven million people each year and costs the world's economies over $2 trillion annually in healthcare expenditure and lost productivity, undermines sustainable development, and exacerbates poverty, food insecurity and labour exploitation. To this end, the delegates of the World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025, have urged governments of the world to accelerate the implementation of all measures in the WHO FCTC in order to end this epidemic by prioritising the increase of excise taxes to decrease the affordability of all tobacco and non-medicinal nicotine products, establishing sustainable financing for tobacco control and other health promotion initiatives from revenue generated.
Recognising the tobacco industry as the biggest barrier to global progress in tobacco control, rejecting engagements with organisations working with or funded by the tobacco industry and holding the tobacco industry liable for the harms it causes, including seeking compensation through legal actions are among the other demands.
Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, president and CEO of Vital Strategies, told reporters that health taxes remain one of the most effective, yet underutilised strategies to save lives, strengthen economies and generate new government revenue.
'For much of the last 20 years, smoking worldwide has been in decline, but we are at a turning point. The most recent trendlines point to a flattening in the decline in cigarette sales, mainly because sales among youth and especially young women are increasing in a substantial number of countries. The next generation deserves the same protections millions have been afforded due to tobacco control—smoke-free spaces; plain, standardised packs with graphic warning labels; substantial taxes on cigarettes in some countries; removal of tobacco marketing near schools; and removal of flavours,' she said.
Professor Guy Marks, president of The Union, told The Indian Express: 'When we leave this room, it's crucial that we all take with us the knowledge, skills and connections we've made if we are to shift the dial on tobacco control. We must hold world leaders and ourselves to account to truly achieve a healthier world for all, by implementing the most effective evidence-based approaches to eradicate the harms of tobacco which we've all heard about this week. That means successfully implementing all seven WHO MPOWER measures. Anything less is unlikely to be effective and risks being branded as tokenism. There are no more excuses. There is no such thing as a healthy tobacco product. The time for action is now: Let's join forces and with one united voice reclaim the narrative from the industry and save lives.'
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition.
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