GLOBAL tobacco industry interference index is released by the Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC) at the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). The index is based on the monitoring and reporting of the Article 5.3 of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) a WHO tobacco control regime document. Pakistan has been a signatory to the convention since 2004. The convention obliges parties to enact laws and enforce certain measures to control the rampant spread of tobacco in any form.
Relatedly, as per the Ministry of Health, average number of deaths directly attributed to tobacco use in Pakistan is exceeding 160,000. Similarly, it is also noteworthy that the total health burden caused by tobacco related morbidity and mortality in Pakistan is Rs. 615 billion, whereas the total revenue collected from tobacco industry hovers around 130 billion. The remaining health burden is borne by state with poor economic standing with a dwindling health system.
Recently, Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR), a non-governmental organization working in tobacco control, released the fourth report of Pakistan tobacco industry interference index painting a dismal picture of the country. The total score for Pakistan was 53 sliding down from 48 during the 2021 report. Pakistan ranked 32 among 90 nations compared to 17 among 80 countries reported in the previous report.
The report points to many gaps in structural enforcement of Article 5.3 of WHO FCTC in letter and spirit. One of the top principles of this article claims that there is a fundamental and irreconcilable difference between the tobacco industry interests and public health policy. While tobacco industry seeks profits, however, and unfortunately these profits come at the cost of public health. A few violations of Article 5.3 noted by the report include CSR activities by the tobacco industry such as tree plantation drives in KP and on Margalla hills (not to mention the officials of tobacco industry dropping the seed-balls from a helicopter)! Moreover, the Prime Minister of Pakistan addressed the “Future of Asia Conference” online, despite initial denial.
Tobacco Industry’s front groups recommended the regulation of new tobacco products in their reports in September 2021. Similarly, Philip Morris Pakistan’s Managing Director expressed their intention to launch a Harm Tobacco Reduction (HTR) product, subject to a proper regulatory regime. Resultantly, In December 2022, an SRO for the regulation of Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) was issued. Moreover, the then Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance and Revenue blocked a proposal by the Ministry of Health to impose a health hazard tax on tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages for at least seven months in 2021.
It’s important to note that anti-tobacco advocates view these interferences with suspicion, as they can be seen as attempts to undermine efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and regulate the industry. Governments and health organizations often stress the importance of implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies, including advertising restrictions, plain packaging and increased taxes, to address the health impact of tobacco use.
Tobacco industry interference in policy formulation is a significant concern and is widely recognized as a public health issue. This interference poses a threat to efforts aimed at reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks. In both Pakistan and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), efforts to curb tobacco-related illnesses and deaths are essential and countering industry interference is a crucial aspect of these initiatives.
—The Authors, Dr Waseem I Janjua works at SDPI and Mazhar Arif leads Coalition for Tobacco Control/Society for Alternative Media and Research (CTC/SAMAR).
views expressed are writer’s own.
