Latest news with #WHOConstitution
Khaleej Times
07-04-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Local production of medicines, vaccines key to addressing pandemic challenges
Expanding local production of health products is key to achieving health equity and pandemic preparedness, said World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday. Dr Tedros not only called for urgent global action to increase local production of health products but also highlighted the gaps exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking via video at a forum in Abu Dhabi marking World Health Day and World Health Organisation's 77th anniversary, he especially underscored the unequal access to vaccines and medical supplies due to limited manufacturing concentrated in a few countries. 'The pandemic agreement aims to address the weaknesses exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lessons it taught us,' he said, referring to the ongoing negotiations in Geneva. Dr Tedros emphasised that expanding local manufacturing is not just a strategy for pandemic response, but a pathway to fulfilling a fundamental human right. 'The right to health means the right to equitable access to the products to protect and promote it. Local production is about realising that right,' he added. Four key recommendations Dr Tedros alo highlighted WHO's continued efforts to decentralise production, citing initiatives like the mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa, which is now sharing its expertise with 15 partner countries. He also noted the bio-manufacturing workforce training initiative in South Korea, which has trained more than 7,000 participants worldwide. Despite these efforts, Dr Tedros acknowledged that low and middle-income countries still face major challenges in accessing affordable financing and improving their research and development capacity. To address these issues, Dr Tedros outlined four key recommendations. 'First, build on using ecosystems for local production through technology transfer, data sharing, regulator strengthening and more," he said. "Second, harness the power of digital technologies, AI and big data to drive the full production bio chain from research to distribution of medicines." "Third, make local production green by using energy efficient technologies and sustainable procurement of raw materials and fourth building public-private partnerships across sectors to increase investment in R&D, manufacturing, infrastructure and workforce capacity," he added. Act without delay Additionally, he urged all stakeholders — governments, industries, and global institutions — to act without delay. 'We don't need to wait until (the pandemic agreement) enters into force to take action,' he said, adding that collaboration today can prevent inequity tomorrow. He reminded the audience that the WHO Constitution, adopted on April 7, 1948, was the first international law to affirm health as a human right — a mission that remains as urgent today as it was 77 years ago. Dr Tedros pointed out that as the world continues to grapple with both emerging and ancient health threats, from Ebola and mpox to malaria and tuberculosis, he stressed that, 'local production is essential for strengthening pandemic preparedness and response globally.'
Al Jazeera
27-02-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
The tobacco epidemic is still one of the world's deadliest threats
In the past 20 years, tobacco use has dropped by one-third globally, and there are an estimated 118 million fewer tobacco users today compared with 2005. Why? In large part because 20 years ago this week, after years of negotiation, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) entered into force – one of the most widely embraced United Nations treaties in history. The WHO FCTC was, and remains, a landmark in international law: the first treaty negotiated under the WHO Constitution, incorporating multiple measures to control the demand and supply of tobacco. Today the convention has 183 parties, covering 90 percent of the world's population. More than 5.6 billion people are protected by the comprehensive implementation of at least one tobacco control measure. For example, 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages, and dozens of countries have implemented plain packaging rules that prohibit branding on cigarette packages, making them less attractive. In addition, 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; more than one-quarter of the world's population is protected by bans on indoor smoking and other smoke-free laws; and increased taxes on tobacco products to reduce their affordability remains the most cost-effective tool to reduce consumption. Tobacco taxes can also raise government revenues for tobacco control and health financing. Furthermore, in 2018, an additional legal instrument entered into force: A protocol to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products, which undermines control measures, diminishes tax revenue, and fuels criminal activities. Despite this progress, tobacco remains the world's leading cause of preventable death and a major driver of heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. There remain about 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, prompted by a multibillion-dollar industry that peddles addictive and deadly products and profits from the suffering of those who use them. Faced with dwindling sales of cigarettes, the industry is turning to new products, such as e-cigarettes, which are falsely advertised as healthier alternatives – even though they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. Tobacco manufacturers spare no effort in hooking millions of young people onto their products. Only 56 countries will reach the global goal of a 30 percent reduction in tobacco use by 2025. Tobacco is not only a health problem. It threatens sustainable development as a whole. The economic cost of smoking, in terms of health expenditures and productivity losses, is estimated at 1.8 percent of the world's annual gross domestic product. Our planet also counts among tobacco's victims. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded every year into our environment – the second highest form of plastic pollution in our world. Valuable agricultural land and water are wasted on growing tobacco instead of food. Production and consumption of tobacco also contribute to global warming, releasing 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air every year. For all these reasons, the WHO FCTC remains as relevant today as it did when it entered into force 20 years ago, although its implementation remains uneven across countries and many areas require strengthening. All countries can do more, including by banning tobacco sponsorship and advertising in traditional media and social media, and by protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference. By fully implementing its provisions, countries can protect the health of their people, their economies, and their environment for decades to come.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tobacco remains one of the world's deadliest threats, but a 20-year treaty is slowly stubbing it out
In the past 20 years, tobacco use has dropped by one-third globally, and there are an estimated 118 million fewer tobacco users today compared with 2005. Why? In large part because 20 years ago this week, after years of negotiation, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) entered into force – one of the most widely embraced United Nations treaties in history. The WHO FCTC was, and remains, a landmark in international law: the first treaty negotiated under the WHO Constitution, incorporating multiple measures to control the demand and supply of tobacco. Today the Convention has 183 parties covering 90 per cent of the world's population. More than 5.6 billion people are protected by the comprehensive implementation of at least one tobacco control measure. For example, 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages, and dozens of countries have implemented plain packaging rules that prohibit branding on cigarette packages, making them less attractive. In addition, 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. And more than one-quarter of the world's population is protected by bans on indoor smoking and other smoke-free laws. All these measures play their part but increased taxes on tobacco products to reduce their affordability remains the most cost-effective tool to reduce consumption. Tobacco taxes can also raise government revenues for tobacco control and health financing. Despite this progress, tobacco remains the world's leading cause of preventable death and a major driver of heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. There remain around 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, fuelled by a multi-billion dollar industry that peddles addictive and deadly products and profits from the suffering of those who use them. Faced with dwindling sales of cigarettes, the industry is turning to new products such as e-cigarettes, which are advertised as healthier alternatives even though they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. Tobacco manufacturers spare no effort in hooking millions of young people onto their products. Only 56 countries will reach the global goal of a 30 per cent reduction in tobacco use by 2025. Tobacco is not only a health problem. It threatens sustainable development as a whole. The economic cost of smoking, from health expenditures and productivity losses, is estimated at 1.8 per cent of the world's annual gross domestic product. Our planet also counts among tobacco's victims. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded every year into our environment – the second highest form of plastic pollution in our world. Valuable agricultural land and water are wasted on growing tobacco instead of food. Production and consumption of tobacco also contributes to global warming, releasing 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air every year. For all these reasons, the WHO FCTC remains as relevant today as it did when it entered into force 20 years ago, although its implementation remains uneven across countries and many areas require strengthening. All countries can do more, including by banning tobacco sponsorship and advertising in traditional media and social media, and by protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference. By fully implementing its provisions, countries can protect the health of their people, their economies, and their environment for decades to come. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
25-02-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Tobacco remains one of the world's deadliest threats, but a 20-year treaty is slowly stubbing it out
In the past 20 years, tobacco use has dropped by one-third globally, and there are an estimated 118 million fewer tobacco users today compared with 2005. Why? In large part because 20 years ago this week, after years of negotiation, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) entered into force – one of the most widely embraced United Nations treaties in history. The WHO FCTC was, and remains, a landmark in international law: the first treaty negotiated under the WHO Constitution, incorporating multiple measures to control the demand and supply of tobacco. Today the Convention has 183 parties covering 90 per cent of the world's population. More than 5.6 billion people are protected by the comprehensive implementation of at least one tobacco control measure. For example, 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages, and dozens of countries have implemented plain packaging rules that prohibit branding on cigarette packages, making them less attractive. In addition, 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. And more than one-quarter of the world's population is protected by bans on indoor smoking and other smoke-free laws. All these measures play their part but increased taxes on tobacco products to reduce their affordability remains the most cost-effective tool to reduce consumption. Tobacco taxes can also raise government revenues for tobacco control and health financing. Despite this progress, tobacco remains the world's leading cause of preventable death and a major driver of heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. There remain around 1.3 billion tobacco users globally, fuelled by a multi-billion dollar industry that peddles addictive and deadly products and profits from the suffering of those who use them. Faced with dwindling sales of cigarettes, the industry is turning to new products such as e-cigarettes, which are advertised as healthier alternatives even though they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. Tobacco manufacturers spare no effort in hooking millions of young people onto their products. Only 56 countries will reach the global goal of a 30 per cent reduction in tobacco use by 2025. Tobacco is not only a health problem. It threatens sustainable development as a whole. The economic cost of smoking, from health expenditures and productivity losses, is estimated at 1.8 per cent of the world's annual gross domestic product. Our planet also counts among tobacco's victims. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded every year into our environment – the second highest form of plastic pollution in our world. Valuable agricultural land and water are wasted on growing tobacco instead of food. Production and consumption of tobacco also contributes to global warming, releasing 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air every year. For all these reasons, the WHO FCTC remains as relevant today as it did when it entered into force 20 years ago, although its implementation remains uneven across countries and many areas require strengthening. All countries can do more, including by banning tobacco sponsorship and advertising in traditional media and social media, and by protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference. By fully implementing its provisions, countries can protect the health of their people, their economies, and their environment for decades to come.
