Prof Prakit said: "In 2002, through the 6th Health Ministers Meeting, ASEAN governments committed to a vision and a "Regional Action Plan on Healthy ASEAN Lifestyles". Identifying tobacco control as one of the priority policy areas, the Action Plan calls upon member nations to implement a Programme of Work on promoting healthy ASEAN lifestyles. For tobacco control this includes developing and implementing a national action plan, consistent with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) on issues such as smuggling, taxation, product advertising, distribution, sale and agricultural production."
There are other actions that have been taken by governments in this region too. In ASEAN (see box), apart from Indonesia every other country has signed and ratified the global tobacco treaty (WHO FCTC). Recognizing tobacco as the major and common risk factor for range of life-threatening diseases including lung cancer Health Ministers from 11 countries in the Southeast Asia region had signed the Dili Declaration in September 2015 pledging to accelerate hard-hitting measures to reduce tobacco use.
Summarises Prof Prakit Vathesatogkit: "At the very least, all healthcare personnel must provide brief advises for smoking cessation to every patient who has a smoking history, in every consultation visit. Worldwide, doctors are among the most influential figures in leading the tobacco control movement. I urge all doctors to join and support tobacco control movement, not just by a supportive gesture but by action, in whatever capacity they feel comfortable."
Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant, CNS (Citizen News Service)
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