PHA-Exchange> HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE NEW CODE OF CONDUCT ON TOBACCO CONTROL - UN

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HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE NEW CODE OF CONDUCT ON TOBACCO CONTROL
- UN
New York, Jan 30 2004 12:00PM
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.
  2004-01-30 00:00:00.000

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For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news