“Global tobacco control” Dr Judith Mackay Launching Ceremony and Seminar on Anti- smoking campaign & Roving Exhibition HK Central Library; 5 November 2005

By 2025: Number of smokers will rise from 1.2 to 1.6 billion

By 2030, 85% smokers will live in developing countries.

Research NATIONAL PREVALENCE SURVEYS YOUTH The Global Youth Tobacco Survey Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study Health professionals surveys Harmfulness of smoking and passive smoking Effective intervention measures

Economics - Key Messages: * Tobacco debit to economy * Tobacco control cost effective * Price increases most effective of all

1994 Philippines Tobacco industry calendar

Cost effectiveness: Values for various tobacco control interventions (US$ per DALY saved) RegionPrice10% Non-price measures 5% effect NRT with 25% cover Low/MiddleIncome High Income ,347-5, ,160 Source: World Bank, 1999

FCTC

Signed 168/192 Ratified 92

HK 1987 ban on:

Australia: earmarked tobacco tax, 1987

cigarettes abolished 1991 Singapore: Duty-free…

Mongolia 1994: Tobacco law

Thailand 1995: Ingredient disclosure

Bhutan 2004: Ban sales

Obstacles to tobacco control n Lack of awareness of magnitude of risk n Preoccupation with other diseases (many of which cause fewer deaths, eg SARS) or non-health problems n Smokers may not yet be dying in large numbers n Focus of health profession on curative medicine n Smoking seen as personal behaviour by community n Tobacco industry: promotion, distortion of evidence, financial might, challenge or threats to governments, organisations, individuals n Tobacco tax revenue, but not debit, seen n Lack of funds for research and intervention

HK resident smoking through SARS mask

Medical model not enough