WHO report on tobacco control: Key findings, how India fares

Source: The post is based on the article “WHO report on tobacco control: Key findings, how India fares”  published in Indian Express on 2nd August 2023

What is the News?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently released a report on tobacco control measures.

This was the ninth WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic. It tracks the progress made by countries in tobacco control since 2008.

What are MPOWER measures?

In line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), WHO had introduced the MPOWER measures in 2008. 

MPOWER are a set of six cost-effective and high impact measures that help countries reduce demand for tobacco.

These measures include: 1) Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies 2) Protecting people from tobacco smoke 3) Offering help to quit tobacco use 4) Warning about the dangers of tobacco 5) Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and 6) Raising taxes on tobacco.

What are the key findings of the WHO report on tobacco control?

MPOWER: In the 15 years since the MPOWER measures were first introduced, 5.6 billion people in the world – or 71% of the entire population – remain protected by at least one of the measures. This has increased from just 5% of the population in 2008.

Countries implementing MPOWER measures: The number of countries implementing at least one MPOWER measure has increased from 44 countries in 2008 to 151 in 2022.

However, there are at least 44 countries in the world that still do not implement any MPOWER measure.

Harmful effects of e-cigarettes: E-cigarettes are harmful to both the people using them and those around them, especially when used indoors.

The tobacco industry is aggressively promoting E-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes. This is undermining the progress made on tobacco control.

Controlling second-hand smoking: The report focuses on controlling second-hand smoking (being in the presence of someone who is smoking).

It talks of creating smoke-free public areas and also de-normalising the act of smoking in the society.

Of the estimated 8.7 million tobacco-related deaths each year, 1.3 million are of non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

Moreover, severe asthma, respiratory tract infections, and sudden infant death syndrome are more common among children exposed to second-hand smoke.

What does the WHO report say about India?

India has the highest level of achievement when it comes to putting health warning labels on tobacco products and providing tobacco dependence treatment.

With 85% of cigarette packs carrying health warnings both on the front and back, India figures among the top 10 countries in terms of the size of health warnings. The cigarette packets in the country also carry a toll-free number for a quit-line.

India has also banned the sale of e-cigarettes, and banned smoking in healthcare facilities and educational institutions.

India is also implementing warnings on OTT platform content when actors are seen using tobacco products. This would make India the first country in the world to do so.