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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTi
IlEGIONAL OFFICE FOil THE WESTERN PACifiC IUIlfAU Il~GIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Twenty-third Session Guam 27 September - 5 October 1972 Provisional agenda item 15 HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING Report by the Regional Director 1. INTRODUCTION
WPR/RC23/8 30 June 1972 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
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The Regional Committee at its twenty-second session considered resolution WHA24.48 adopted by the Twenty-fourth World Health Assembly on health consequences of smoking. The Committee in its resolution WPR/RC22.R9 adopted on 23 September 1971 requested the Regional Director "to study ways in which governments may take action to reduce the health consequences of smoking and to report his recommendations to the twenty-third session of the Regional Committee". 2. ACTION TAKEN BY GOVERNMENTS
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2.1
Countries in which some form of antismoking action has been taken: Australia and New Zealand
An antismoking drive has been initiated in these two countries in the form of restrictions on the advertisement of cigarettes. Smoking in theatres and cinemas is not allowed in Manila. Smoking in public conveyances in the city of Manila is also prohibited but this regulation has not been effectively enforced. The Department of Health has issued circulars prohibiting smoking in hospitals and has promoted seminars on smoking, drug addiction and alcoholism.
Philippines
Singapore
An antismoking law has been in force for about two years and all advertisements for cigarettes and tobacco are banned on television, radio and billboards or in /newspapers •••
WPR/RC23/8 page 2 newspapers, journals, etc. In addition, the Ministry of Culture, which is responsible for publicity regarding the harmful effects of smoking, makes regular announcements about smoking over the radio and on television and has arranged television showings of antismoking films, including the film "Heart Sweet Heart" prepared by the World Health Organization. 2.2 Countries in which an antismoking programme is in preparation: Khmer Republic Plans to print a warning statement on cigarette packets and to prohibit smoking in hospitals and health institutions are under discussion. The Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, is collecting documentation concerning the dangers of smoking and ways of organizing an antismoking camp.aign. The Malayan Medical Association has petitioned the Ministry of Health to organize such a campaign.
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Malaysia
Republic of Viet-Nam - A proposal has been made to launch an educational campaign in 1972 to warn the public of the dangers of smoking, in the first place using the channel of the personnel of the Ministry of Health and subsequently through the mass media. 2.3 Other countries
In most of the other countries in the Region, no antismoking action has yet been taken. The main reason for such a slow response to the need to reduce the health consequences of smoking is presumably the fear of loss of tax revenues derived from cigarette and tobacco sales. 3.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
In the light of this preliminary survey, and after a review of the pertinent literature, the. Regional Director is able to suggest the following recommendations: 3.1 Long-term legislative and administrative action for the welfare of the population may be taken by the responsible government authorities on the national and local levels in the following ways: /(a) All advertising •••
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WPR/RC23/8 page 3 (a) (b) All advertising and promotion of cigarette sales should be immediately reduced and eventually eliminated. Smoking should be discouraged in all public places, theatres, offices, schools, hospitals and health institutions; Smoking should not be allowed in short distance public transport vehicles and, in order to protect the the rights and the health of non-smoking passengers, separate sections or compartments should be reserved for them in long distance airplane, bus and train services; A more intensive programme should be implemented in schools at all levels in order to inform the school population regarding the risks that smokers are exposed to and to acquaint the schoolchildren with the harmful effects of smoking; Require cigarette manufacturers to print a warning on each pack of cigarettes that smoking is injurious to health.
(c)
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(d)
(e>
3.2 The support of voluntary agencies for action to control smokinl should be sought and encouraged. 3.3 All Member governments should be advised to set up a co-ordinating body, made up of representatives from appropriate government and voluntary agencies, which should prepare specific programmes to reduce smokina and should co-ordinate and supervise antismoking activities • 3.4 Access to the mass media should be ensured in order that the general public may be informed of the hazards and harmful consequences of smoking.
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