Brief Context
In News WHO has released the 10th edition of its Global Tobacco Epidemic Report, assessing progress in tobacco control since the launch of the MPOWER strategy in 2008. Key Findings of the Report Widespread Impact: Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one of the MPOWER policy prescriptions, collectively benefiting over 6.1 billion people. Most Progress: Among all MPOWER measures, large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages have seen the most widespread and consistent implem
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Syllabus: GS2/ Health
In News
- WHO has released the 10th edition of its Global Tobacco Epidemic Report, assessing progress in tobacco control since the launch of the MPOWER strategy in 2008.
- The report notes significant global progress, with over 6.1 billion people now protected by at least one of the six MPOWER measures.
Key Findings of the Report
- Widespread Impact: Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one of the MPOWER policy prescriptions, collectively benefiting over 6.1 billion people.
- Most Progress: Among all MPOWER measures, large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages have seen the most widespread and consistent implementation.
- India’s Leadership in Digital Content Regulation: India has notably become the first country globally to apply tobacco control regulations specifically to digital streaming content.
- India’s Strong Stance on TAPS: India has implemented stringent measures to curb tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) across all forms of media. This aligns with the “E” (Enforce bans) in MPOWER and is a critical step in reducing tobacco appeal.
- Tobacco Tax: A critical finding is that tobacco tax remains the least-adopted MPOWER measure globally. This is a significant concern as increasing tobacco taxes is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to reduce consumption, especially among youth and lower-income groups.
Tobacco Consumption
- Tobacco use claims over seven million lives a year, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries.
- India is the world’s second-largest tobacco producer after China.
- India is the 4th largest producer of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco in the world after China, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
- Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India, such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses, accounting for over 1.35 million deaths each year.
- Significant progress has been made to reduce tobacco use in countries with the highest burden of tobacco consumption over the last two decades.
- Key strategies include the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the six proven World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use:
- Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies;
- Protecting people from tobacco smoke with smoke-free air legislation;
- Offering help to quit tobacco use;
- Warning about the dangers of tobacco with pack labels and mass media;
- Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;
- Raising taxes on tobacco.
- Key strategies include the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the six proven World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER tobacco control measures to reduce tobacco use:
Source: TH