Hiking tobacco taxes will help tame America’s most enduring epidemic
As the nation staggers through the pandemic, most remain oblivious to the epidemics that plagued Americans' health before Covid-19 struck -- and will continue to do so long after it subsides. The opioid crisis, obesity and the continuing toll from tobacco use are all critical public health threats. Of these, reducing the persistent use of...
Farmers appeal for representation in tobacco control confab next month
Farmers organizations appealed to the Philippine government to ensure they are given proper representation and their legitimate concerns are not ignored in the forthcoming conference on the global treaty on tobacco control beginning Nov. 8 to be held under the auspices of the World Health Organization. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is the country’s...
One Hundred Tobacco Control Experts Urge WHO to Adopt Harm Reduction
On October 18, 100 tobacco control experts called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to accept the reality of safer nicotine alternatives. The letter, which harshly criticizes the WHO for its hostile stance against tobacco harm reduction (THR), arrives ahead of a gathering of the 182 countries that belong to the health agency’s Framework Convention on Tobacco...
Government sets up expert panel on tobacco tax policy
The mandate of the group includes analyzing current tax structure of all forms of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco, and suggesting various tax rate models for consideration in the preparation of FY23 and future Union budgets. The government has set up an expert group led by a senior official in the health ministry to prepare...
The Global Fight against Tobacco Has Stalled
Global efforts to end smoking have stalled and require a drastic overhaul to prevent one billion people from dying in this century, according to a new report by five leading experts, members of the International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking. Worldwide, an estimated 1.14 billion people use tobacco. Nearly 8 million die each...
Political will is the vaccine needed against Big Tobacco in Africa
Tobacco kills an estimated eight million people each year globally. And it’s known that the African continent is being targeted by tobacco companies. Are we doing enough to limit its harmful effects? Over the past three weeks, a series of reports has emerged exposing how tobacco giant British American Tobacco has allegedly been manipulating governments in Africa...
Costa Rica’s strict anti-smoking laws
Costa Rican lawmakers this week approved a project that will ban the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices in public. The legislation will also impose a tax on such devices, with the proceeds supporting the Social Security Fund (CCSS). In that context, we’re revisiting Costa Rica’s major anti-smoking law that passed in 2012. Precursors to...
The tobacco ‘endgame’: Is it possible?
Dr Eduardo Bianco, Chair of the Tobacco Expert Group at the World Heart Federation discusses the ongoing battle to end the tobacco epidemic, and how e-cigarettes may be part of the problem Open Access Government speak with medical doctor, clinical cardiologist, and expert on tobacco dependence treatment Dr Eduardo Bianco, who has been working on...
Vaping: FDA approves e-cigarette in US for first time
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates medical products in the US, has approved an e-cigarette for sale for the first time. It authorised the marketing of three products from RJ Reynolds, under the Vuse brand. The FDA decided that the benefit to adults trying to quit smoking outweighs the risk of teenagers becoming hooked. The...
Kenya ought to lead with science in the control of tobacco
Tobacco smoking claims the lives of more than 8,000 Kenyans every year, according to the Tobacco Control Study released by the Ministry of Health earlier this year. Yet, Kenya is lagging in embracing the latest scientifically evidenced innovative and sustainable methods on how to help smokers quit. Non-evidence-based policymaking and misinformation are considered some of...
