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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
International meet urge govts to take bold steps to end tobacco use
The World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025, hosted by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the World Health Organization, concluded with the global tobacco control community calling for the accelerated implementation of all measures in the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to end the tobacco epidemic. 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. ... Read More
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report – Must know insights for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report. (Relevance: Global reports released by international organisations such as the WHO are highly relevant for the UPSC exam, as they present a comprehensive image of various issues and India's position with respect to other countries.) Tobacco use remains one of the gravest public health threats the world has ever faced, claiming over eight million lives annually. Of these, more than seven million deaths result from direct tobacco use, according to the Global Burden of Disease study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). For tackling the challenge of high tobacco consumption, health warnings are an effective way to help people quit tobacco use. In this context, knowing the key highlights of the World Health Organisation's Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, which focuses on measures to warn people about the harms of tobacco, becomes important. 1. The Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report is developed by WHO with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. It focuses on six proven WHO MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use. 2. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its guidelines provide the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control. To help make this a reality, WHO introduced the MPOWER measures. 3. MPOWER measures are intended to assist in the country-level implementation of effective interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco, contained in the WHO FCTC. MPOWER measures are – 📌M– monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; 📌P– protect people from tobacco smoke; 📌O– offer help to quit tobacco; 📌W– warn about dangers of tobacco; 📌E– enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and 📌R– raise taxes on tobacco products. 4. A total of 110 countries now require these measures — up from just nine in 2007 — protecting 62 per cent of the global population; and 25 countries have adopted plain packaging. 1. The 2025 report focuses on the W measure (warn about the dangers of tobacco) and shows that with 6.1 billion people protected by at least one MPOWER measure at best-practice level many countries continue to make progress in the fight against tobacco. Health warnings and mass media campaigns work best when they are part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy.-WHO 2. Four countries have now achieved the full MPOWER packaged while a further seven are only one measure away. At the same time 40 countries still have no MPOWER measure at best-practice level. 3. The report reveals that the most striking gains have been in graphic health warnings, one of the key measures under the WHO FCTC. 4. According to the report, India is among the countries identified as having best-practice-level graphic health warning labels in 2024. 5. Of all MPOWER measures, large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages have seen the most progress since 2007 – both in terms of the number of countries and population covered by a best-practice policy. Not only are more countries adopting graphic health warnings, but the average size of warnings has increased from 28 per cent in 2007 to almost 60 per cent in 2024. India has achieved the highest status in O and W (both in 2016) and is in the second highest category of other measures, including M (mass media). Health warnings on cigarette packs are among the largest in the world at 85 per cent. Only 10 countries have a larger graphic health warning. – Dr Vinayak Mohan Prasad (head of the Global Tobacco Control Programme) 6. On the ˋW' measure, India has been in the highest group since 2016. On the 'E' measure, India has banned direct and indirect tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships 7. The WHO report also warned that action is needed to maintain and accelerate progress in tobacco control as rising industry interference challenges tobacco policies and control efforts. 8. Notably, Tobacco tax is least adopted MPOWER measure in India. 1. India is among the six countries that received 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control for prioritizing tobacco cessation approaches to reach a significant number of tobacco users in the country. 2. The National Tobacco Control Cell of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, was presented with the award at the World Conference on Tobacco Control held in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday (23rd June). 3. India was presented the 'O' category award for promoting tobacco cessation. Among the other countries that received the award were Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Philippines and Ukraine. 1. India has implemented stringent measures to curb tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) across all forms of media, including television, radio, print and digital platforms. 2. To restrict depiction of tobacco use in entertainment media, the Centre introduced the Tobacco-Free Films and Television Rules in 2012, focusing on traditional platforms such as cinema and television. 3. As more people shift towards using digital streaming platforms, India recognized the need to update its tobacco control policies. Coinciding with World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2023, the government introduced an amendment to the 2012 legislation, extending its coverage to over-the-top streaming platforms. With this move, India became the first country in the world to apply tobacco control regulations specifically to digital streaming content. 4. The WHO report said that India is reinforcing its commitment to public health and positioning itself as a pioneer in adapting regulation to evolving media consumption trends. However, the current national TAPS ban can be further strengthened by prohibiting tobacco advertising at points of sale and fully banning tobacco industry sponsorship. 1. Despite widespread awareness of tobacco's health risks, the raw tobacco industry continues to thrive. In 2022, an estimated 5.8 million tonnes of tobacco were produced globally, with China accounting for roughly one-third of this output, according to Statista. 2. In the same year, India and Brazil produced approximately 0.8 million and 0.7 million tonnes of unmanufactured tobacco respectively, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). 3. The world's top 10 largest Tobacco producing countries, as of 2023 are: Source: United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAOSTAT) 4. Notably, India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of unmanufactured tobacco, with a production volume of nearly 770,000 tonnes. Consider the following statements: 1. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2025 is 'Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.' 2. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of unmanufactured tobacco. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: India conferred with Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control, Top 10 largest tobacco-producing countries: India ranks among top 3, India scores high in graphic health warnings, cessation bans: WHO report on global tobacco use) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Can mHealth and AI amp up tobacco cessation efforts?
If we compare the GATS 1 (Global Adult Tobacco Survey) with the GATS 2, all parameters related to tobacco cessation show a downward trend. While the sustained efforts by the government through implementation of national programs such as NTCP, COTPA, and NOHP; ratification of strategic frameworks such as WHO's MPOWER or FCTC; or multilateral collaboration with global health organisations, NGOs, and other stakeholders, the efforts fall short in responding to the tobacco scourge prevalent in the country. 28.6 % of the people aged 15 and above use tobacco in India, the use of smokeless forms being double that of smoked forms. This can be attributed to the social acceptability of smokeless tobacco (SLT), especially among women in old times. Tobacco continues to hold cultural value in local traditions, where it is offered to guests and gods with equal reverence. The second largest consumer—and third largest producer—of tobacco, India is home to 72.7 million smokers. It is responsible for 13.5 lakh deaths, 1.5 lakh cancers, 4.2 million heart diseases, and 3.7 million lung diseases every year. With a 20 % share of the global burden load, India is touted as the oral cancer capital of the world. Also Read | From tea stalls to tumours, tobacco affordability fuelling cancer epidemic in India Secondhand smoking (SHS), caused by the inhalation of toxic fumes when somebody is smoking in the vicinity, compounds the problem further. It contributes to 14% of total tobacco deaths, with the brunt falling squarely on the most vulnerable—women, children, and older people. Almost half of the non-smoking women and over one-third of pregnant women are exposed to tobacco smoke in India and Bangladesh. According to GATS 2, despite 85.6% of people being aware of the detrimental effects of SHS, 38.7% of people working at home and 30.2% working indoors were exposed to smoking. A 2023 report by WHO on global tobacco epidemic believes that physical distancing—whether it be designated smoke rooms (DSRs) or ventilation—fails to protect from the exposure of SHS. The smoke residues from 7000 chemicals, including over 70 carcinogenic substances, cling to physical surfaces long after a cigarette is stubbed out. Through case studies of popular smoke ban laws in Atlanta and Finland, WHO FCTC's Section 8 advocates for strict legislation for a smoke-free environment to protect our basic right to breathe in clean air. Also Read | Two decades after India's public smoking ban, challenges persist in tobacco control Dependency on tobacco Multiple studies have shown that dependence on tobacco and bidis significantly impairs individuals' ability to quit. The wide availability of locally-produced tobacco brands in India further complicates regulation of nicotine content. Moreover, Big Tobacco is frequently accused of deliberately maintaining high nicotine levels to promote addiction. Furthermore, the tobacco industry lobbying has actively obscured critical information and deflected public discourse from the health risks linked to tobacco use. This has resulted in manufacturing of narratives, such as conflating the harms of tobacco smoking with air pollution. What harm will one cigarette cause when the level of pollution amounts to breathing 20 cigarettes a day!? (While air pollution demands urgent action, the harm caused by cigarette smoke is 2 to 2.5 times greater, according to a Chinese study.) In the 1996 issue of Time Magazine, the president and CEO of Philip Morris was quoted saying that cigarettes are no more addictive than coffee or gummy bears. This impact on teenagers by Big Tobacco propaganda is concerning. 8.5% of young adolescents (between 13 and 15 years) consume tobacco in some form in India. With stylish names, flashy packaging, fancy brand ambassadors, and fun flavours, the tobacco industry preys on the young to initiate tobacco use as well as continue it. A WHO report highlighted the addition of sweetening agents, flavorings, bronchodilators, and additives such as levulinic acid and menthol to tobacco products—measures intended to reduce the harshness of nicotine and create a cooling effect in the throat. These modifications in taste, smell, and sensory appeal, experts believe, hype the demand of these products among the youth. Kicking the habit The GATS 2 survey revealed that out of the total people who wanted to quit, 70% had to do it alone, and most couldn't sustain it beyond a month. We must also realize that cessation is not a one-off thing but a continuum—the counselling must always be ongoing and adaptive. Pranav Ish, a pulmonologist at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospitals said even 2-3 minutes of reinforcement has worked wonders in his patients. GATS 2, however, reveals a dismal picture when it comes to the attitude of healthcare providers: only 31.7% of healthcare providers advised their patients to quit in the last month, and 48.8% in the last year. Aninda Debnath, assistant professor, Community Medicine, MAMC, Delhi, says that while a lot of programs related to tobacco cessation are in place, a critical look at their functioning and utilisation is important. The COTPA Act prohibits advertising of tobacco in any form; however, a study by Vital Strategies found 75 % of online surrogate marketing of tobacco on Meta platforms. Vikrant Mohanty, HoD and Project Head, National Resource Centre for Oral Health and Tobacco Cessation, MAIDS, Delhi, said: 'While the government is doing its bit through cessation services at primary level, dedicated counsellors in NCD clinics, dentist training under NOHP, a comprehensive approach with integration of stakeholders at various levels is the need of the hour. The dropout from follow-up still remains huge, and faith in the treatment low.' Also Read | Smokeless tobacco products contribute to over 50% of oral cancer cases in India, study finds AI to the rescue Traditional forms of counseling are, for one, not equitable—the social desirability bias kicks in when hospitals expect the patient to come back. Plus, affordability and accessibility to TCCs is an issue for most who come from lower to lower-middle classes and work in informal sectors or as daily wage workers. Researchers have found that the results of tobacco cessation have stagnated, or at times gone down, for people with social disadvantage. While mCessation in the form of encouraging text messages or telephonic counselling through NTQLS has been an innovative solution (as part of WHO's Be He@lthy, Be mobile), limited success has been observed. Some of the gaps in successful implementation of mHealth include voice recognition inaccuracies, network connectivity issues, poor digital literacy, shoddy interface, absence of personal connection, poor long-term engagement, and high attrition rates. Integrating mHealth with innovative solutions such as PSD (Persuasive Systems Design) or just-in-time-adaptive-intervention (JITAI) that deliver an intervention in moments of elevated need or receptivity has shown great promise. This is where AI can give us a leg up. Mohanty adds that large language models can bridge the gap of delivery, provide personalized healthcare systematically, capture data, and use them in improving the outcomes.' AI can be harnessed not only through chatbots but also indirectly to train healthcare professionals so they can assess, advise and follow-up with the patients rigorously. Dr. Debanath emphasised the importance of refresher training—a component often neglected—which can be made significantly more accessible and efficient with the help of AI.' Monika Arora, Vice President of Research and Health Promotion at PHFI, believes, 'Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI can provide round-the-clock support, track and monitor tobacco use behavior, offer evidence-based information, and deliver personalized motivational messages. AI can also utilize predictive analytics to identify individuals at higher risk of relapse and tailor interventions accordingly.' However, this can't happen in isolation. All the interviewees believed that AI should not be thought of as an alternative but as an adjunct to traditional strategies. Dr. Arora and others are working on an AI-based model under Project CARE, where the focus is on 'co-development with users and healthcare providers' who can come up with innovative and contextually relevant solutions. Also Read | The tobacco epidemic in India Digital literacy challenge However, all is not rosy with mHealth and AI. While mobile penetration in the country is good, the lack of digital literacy might act as a massive deterrent. Debnath shared a personal anecdote: 'My mother has a smartphone, but she uses it only for calling and WhatsApp.' Moreover, in this age of digital revolution, when we are always bombarded with text messages and the ubiquitous 'ting' of notifications, the impact of one more message needs to be looked at with a fair bit of skepticism. These newer innovations should be complemented with other time-tested strategies. Plain packaging, which was initiated by Australia for the first time in 2012—and was followed by a wave of countries—should be considered as the next step to challenge the growing empire of tobacco corporations. Stronger warnings, higher taxes, increasing the size of graphic warnings, banning e-cigarettes, and hiring brand ambassadors cam aid our efforts. Emerging approaches such as adaptive counseling, designed to provide stepped care that addresses patients' unmet needs and parallels chronic disease management, can also be considered. Dr. Ish added: 'It feels rewarding that a patient who could earlier smoke three cigarettes had to contend with only one due to high costs.' India has garnered international attention for its tobacco cessation program, but the sheer burden of tobacco warrants that we not only explore newer strategies while also ensuring rigorous implementation of the existing ones. (Kinshuk Gupta is a writer, journalist, and public health physician. His debut book is Yeh Dil Hai Ki Chor Darwaja. kinshuksameer@
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
World No Tobacco Day: WHO, GoP join hands to deal with devastating economic & health impacts
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan and the World Health Organization (WHO) have joined hands to jointly collaborate to deal with the devastating economic and health impacts of tobacco, which annually results in the deaths of 164,000 people and financially cause Rs700 billion or $2.5 billion losses to the country. The development came here on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day jointly organised by the WHO and the Ministry of National Health Services. The participants emphasised that all tobacco products on the market, without exception and regardless of the manufacturer, are extremely harmful to health and pose serious risks to people of all ages including children and teenagers. Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Health Laeeq Ahmad said that Pakistan was a proud signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Pakistan remains firmly committed to implementing comprehensive, evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use. He thanked all partners, including WHO, for their unwavering support. 'Together, let us work towards a tobacco-free Pakistan, a nation where our people can live, work, and thrive in an environment that values health, safety, and well-being,' He said that Pakistan in collaboration with WHO and other partners was committed to work together on urgent and sustainable measures to save lives. Measures include long-term increased taxation, advertising bans, regulation on plan packaging and product design to reduce appeal – especially to vulnerable populations such as children and teenagers, tobacco and nicotine-free public spaces, strict enforcement of tobacco control laws, and medical support for those who want to quit. Research has shown that measures such as tobacco taxation are effective in increasing revenues for the government while also reducing consumption, tobacco-related diseases, and pressure on health systems. Pakistan ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004, and WHO provides continuous technical support to the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination and the Federal Board of Revenue in areas such as tobacco tax policy and track-and-trace implementation. WHO Deputy Representative in Pakistan Ellen Thom said, 'The 164,000 people dead to tobacco every year are not just numbers. They are workers with families. They are sons and daughters. They are also teenagers and children, who are particularly vulnerable and an easy target for the advertisement of the tobacco industry. Let us unmask the appeal. Tobacco is not a candy; it is a killer, and we need to protect our children, our families, and our communities.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Commitment To End Tobacco Must Translate To Bold Actions On The Ground
Commitment to end tobacco must translate to bold actions on the ground, said Dr Tara Singh Bam. He exhorted the new government of Indonesia to sign and ratify the global tobacco treaty (formally called the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or WHO FCTC) in the interest of the health and wellbeing of its people. FCTC is the first international legally binding corporate accountability and public health treaty of the WHO to protect people from the devastating tobacco use. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly of the WHO on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. Currently, among the countries that are part of the United Nations, except 14, all of them have ratified the FCTC. Among the 14 countries that have not yet become a part of the global tobacco treaty, 6 have signed but not ratified it, and 8 have not even signed it - including Indonesia. Dr Tara Singh Bam was addressing the delegates of 10th Indonesian Conference on Tobacco Control (ICTOH 2025) including Vice President of Indonesia, Minister of Health of Indonesia, and other dignitaries. Dr Bam is the Board Director of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) and serves as Asia Pacific Director (Tobacco Control), Vital Strategies. Indonesian conference was held just few days before the World No Tobacco Day 2025 and few weeks before the World Conference on Tobacco Control opens in Ireland next month. With highest male smoking rates globally in Indonesia, ratifying FCTC is an urgent priority With an Adult Smoking rate of 39%, Indonesia ranks among the top 5 countries with highest smoking rates. It also holds the dubious distinction of having 74.5% male smokers - highest in the world. It is also the only country in the Asia Pacific region that has not signed the FCTC. Dr Bam blames it on the intense influence of tobacco industry on the government. It lobbies with the government, including giving donations to political parties for their political campaigns. According to Dr Bam, in the absence of FCTC, the tobacco industry interference is all pervasive in Indonesia- at the central level, provincial level and local level. So, the first urgent thing to do is for the government to sign the FCTC in the interest of public health. Once the government ratifies the treaty, it will become mandatory for it to implement all the provisions of the treaty comprehensively, including FCTC Article 5.3, that mandates protection of public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, and take steps to ensure that tobacco industry interference does not undermine the implementation of tobacco control measures and public policy. 'Signing FCTC is all about political leadership, commitment and action. What I have seen in Indonesia is commitment, but there is not enough action on the ground. Action also means that the government has to sign and ratify the treaty. The government has to be honest to its people. We now have a new government and hopefully it will take this issue seriously and ratify the treaty," he hoped. Bright tobacco products, dark deadly intentions The theme of World No Tobacco day 2025 theme is 'Bright Products. Dark Intentions. Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products'. Dark intentions indeed! Throughout its lifecycle, tobacco pollutes the planet and damages the health of all people. Globally, about 35 lakh hectares of farm land are destroyed to grow tobacco every year. Deforestation caused by tobacco farming is estimated at 2 lakh hectares annually. Sustainable food production in poor and middle-income nations is jeopardised where tobacco is grown as a commercial crop. Tobacco use is one of the biggest (and yet entirely preventable) risk factors for major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (such as heart diseases and stroke), cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and arthritis, as well as for communicable diseases like TB and COVID-19. One in six NCD deaths and 27% of TB deaths globally are attributed to tobacco use. The economic losses are staggering too. The global economic cost of tobacco use is estimated at USD 1.85 trillion annually, equivalent to approximately 1.8% of the world's GDP. These are funds that could be used by governments for education, healthcare, and social benefit schemes for the good of the common public, especially the disadvantaged communities. Burden and Impact of tobacco use in Indonesia In Indonesia too, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths, claiming over 270,000 lives annually, which is about 23.3% of the total deaths. It deepens poverty and hits the most vulnerable the hardest. Tobacco use is also the biggest risk factor for TB in Indonesia which has the 2nd highest burden of TB globally. Smoking is responsible for up to 30% of Indonesia's TB burden, or 319,000 TB cases each year. All this drains the country's exchequer by over IDR 450 trillion or approximately USD 29 billion annually. And yet, the tobacco industry continues to find new ways to dole out this poison in various forms to lure youngsters and children - by way of new nicotine products like e-cigarettes and flavoured tobacco products- that are rapidly gaining ground. It is high time to focus on challenging the misleading techniques employed by the tobacco industry to make their unsafe products appealing to their victims. Silver lining Although Indonesia is yet to sign the WHO FCTC, Indonesia's Ministry of Health supports the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT),which is a unique alliance of mayors and sub-national leaders from 122 cities of 12 countries. APCAT is dedicated to advance tobacco control, prevention and control of NCDs and TB in the region, among addressing other compelling health and development priorities. Several Indonesian cities are members of APCAT, including Bogor, Denpasar, Klungkung, Bandar Lampung, East Jakarta, Pekalongan, Malang, and Balikpapan. Local governments of these cities have been doing inspiring work on the ground for tobacco control since several years now which has demonstrated commendable public health impact. This includes implementing 100% smoke-free policy in all public and work places; banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; building policy advocacy to raise taxes and prices on tobacco, alcohol and other harmful products; safeguarding peoples' health from tobacco industry tactics; incorporating NCD prevention programmes into primary healthcare services, among others. The way forward to #endTobacco But this is not enough. Dr Bam rightly calls upon all levels of government, parliamentarians, and stakeholders to act decisively to align the local tobacco control efforts with global standards by committing to the ratification of the WHO FCTC. He acknowledges the Presidential Regulation No. 28 of 2024 (that covers a wide range of healthcare issues, including regulations on tobacco products and steps against electronic cigarettes) as a step forward in the right direction, but thinks it is not enough for the scale of the crisis the country is facing. 'It is our shared responsibility to protect public health policies from the vested interests of the tobacco companies. Both national and local governments must ensure that all tobacco control policies are developed and implemented, free from tobacco industry influence. The tools, the science, and the evidence are in our hands. What we need now is political will and courageous leadership," he said. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
