Newly independent states: Potential health impact of strong tobacco control policies

WHO has developed a series of fact sheets for the 11 newly independent states (NIS). The fact sheets clearly demonstrate  the positive health impact of strong tobacco control policies consistent with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The projections show that smoking prevalence can be reduced by at least 28.5% within five years, 39.1% within 15 years and 46% within 40 years across the NIS. The abridged version of the SimSmoke tobacco control model was used to project the reductions in smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths resulting from implementing tobacco control policies (individually and in combination). The fact sheets are a useful tool for policy-makers, public health professionals and other interested users in assessing which measures will have the strongest impact.

This work was made possible in the context of the Project on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, financed by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.