A recent study published in the current issue of the scientific journal “The Lancet” established that stringent tobacco control measures, involving higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws, advertising bans and large health warnings, are among the most effective strategies nations can adopt to reduce deaths from chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Tobacco

This study sends a strong communication to all the governments around the world that these scientifically proven control measures to reduce tobacco use are the best and cost-effective ways to protect their citizen’s health. “The International Tobacco Control Treaty, The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control” also called for quick implementation of these measures.

The study involved 23 countries accounting for 80% of the ‘chronic disease burden’ in the developing world and calculated how many deaths could be prevented over 10 years by implementing health interventions to reduce tobacco use and salt intake. The study also calculated the financial costs involved.

Specific examination of the impact of four key elements of the “Tobacco
Control Treaty” namely , increased taxes on tobacco products, enforcement of smoke-free workplaces laws, larger health warnings combined with public awareness campaigns ,and comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, resulted in to following conclusions;

  • In all the 23 countries, implementing tobacco control measures would save 5.5 million lives over 10 years. Most deaths averted would be from cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and cancer.
  • The control measures and health interventions are highly cost-effective. The implementing cost would be less than 40 US cents per person per year in low and middle income countries and nearly $1 per person per year in upper middle income countries.
  • Across the 23 countries, the mean implementation cost per person was 36 cents per person. This is equal to 0.5 percent of government spending on health, according to the study. In fact, with the exception of public awareness campaigns, these measures will cost governments virtually nothing to implement. Higher tobacco taxes would actually raise revenue.

“The Lancet study” is an important reminder that science and experience have identified effective and affordable measures to reduce tobacco use around the world. A committed political leadership is needed to implement these measures. Until now, 151 nations have expressed their commitment to comply with the measures suggested by “The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”.

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An urgent action is the need of the hour. Unless current trends are reversed, continued tobacco use is projected to kill one billion people worldwide this century. Tobacco will cost more than five million lives worldwide this year and the number would be double by 2020. Almost 70% of these deaths would be in developing nations. However, public health experts conclude that 300 million deaths from tobacco can be prevented in the next 50 years just by cutting adult cigarette consumption to half.

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