New issue of WHO/Europe’s Public Health Panorama: making tobacco a thing of the past
WHO
The latest issue of Public Health Panorama shines a spotlight on accelerating the implementation of WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within the WHO European Region.
The June edition includes the opinions of experts in the field, case studies of successful and innovative approaches to tobacco control in countries, and discussions of new concepts through which we can make progress on this important public health issue. The articles presented cover three key themes:
- taking a multisector approach to tobacco control at every level, which links to other key health determinants to strengthen resilience;
- identifying new and wider system perspectives in tobacco control that will accelerate implementation, including human rights and bolder state action; and
- ensuring all Member States are committed to leaving no one behind, especially in terms of inequalities related to mental health and gender.
Tobacco use in the WHO European Region
Tobacco use represents an important public health issue worldwide, but particularly in the European Region, where some of the highest levels of tobacco use have been reported. An estimated 186 million people, or 26% of the Region’s population, smoke.
It has been 15 years since the WHO FCTC entered into force. This leaves 10 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and yet only 6 countries in the Region are on track to reach the global target of a 30% reduction in tobacco use. This means that close to 90% of countries in the Region will not reach the target for a reduction in tobacco use prevalence.
Despite the Region being a leader in global tobacco control, with some countries going beyond the WHO FCTC and committing to tobacco-free generations, stronger action is needed to create fair, safe and stable societies that help make tobacco a thing of the past.
About Public Health Panorama
Public Health Panorama is the journal of WHO/Europe. It provides a platform for scientists and public health practitioners to publish lessons learned from the field, as well as original research, to facilitate the use of evidence and good practice for public health action.
