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Health professionals to promote new code of conduct on tobacco control – UN

Health professionals to promote new code of conduct on tobacco control – UN

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To stem trends in tobacco use, which currently causes nearly 5 million deaths each year, healthcare professionals at a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting in Geneva today agreed to promote a new code of conduct which includes a pledge to quit smoking.

Smoking prevalence among health professionals in many countries is the same if not higher than the average of the population, according to WHO. In Albania in 2000, 44 per cent of medical students smoked, compared with 39 per cent of the population. In Saudi Arabia, 20 per cent of the doctors smoke whereas the average for the population is 13 per cent.

Studies have shown that even brief counselling by health professionals on the dangers of smoking and importance of quitting is one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing the harmful practice, according to WHO.

“When it comes to tobacco use, health professionals have the opportunity to help people change their behaviour,” said Dr. Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, Director of WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative. “Their involvement is key to successfully curbing the tobacco epidemic.”

The associations, meeting this week at WHO headquarters in Geneva, represent members in almost all countries and participants include pharmacists, dentists, nurses, midwifes, chiropractors and physicians. During the discussions, professionals vowed to strengthen tobacco surveillance and cessation programmes, ensure access to tobacco-free healthcare facilities and implement education and community advocacy programmes.

The participants agreed that health professionals should introduce tobacco control in the national public health agenda, support the signature and ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) by their governments, and back the treaty’s implementation.

The FCTC, adopted in last May, sets out the standards on tobacco-related issues, such as price and tax increases, illicit trade, labelling, advertising and sponsorship and second-hand smoke. Since its adoption, 87 countries and the European Community have signed it, and six – Fiji , Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Seychelles and Sri Lanka – have ratified the accord. The treaty will become law 90 days after 40 countries have signed and ratified it, binding States parties to legislate according to its provisions.