As healthcare workers dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide, we urge policymakers to adopt and rigorously implement tobacco control policies in line with international best practices.

Tobacco use is the world’s leading cause of preventable death, and the tobacco industry is doing everything it can to addict a new generation of addicts.

If policymakers do not take action quickly, young people will pay the price.

We, the undersigned, call on policymakers to take the following urgent actions:

• • Fully implement the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
  • Strongly increase tobacco taxes to raise prices and generate revenue for governments. It is the single most effective way to reduce tobacco use and save lives.
  • Enforce comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
  • Place large, pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging.
  • Enact and enforce 100% smoke-free laws to help guarantee the fundamental right to breathe clean air for all, protect the health of workers and non-smokers, and encourage smokers to quit.
  • Make sure all tobacco and nicotine products – including heated tobacco, electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches – are strongly regulated.

We also call on policy makers to exclude the tobacco industry and its allies from participating in the policy process, as called for in the WHO FCTC.

The evidence is clear: comprehensive tobacco control policies save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to healthier societies. The time to act decisively is now. Failure to address this public health crisis enables the tobacco industry to continue addicting new generations to harmful products, perpetuating a cycle of disease and economic burden.

We, the undersigned healthcare workers, stand united in our commitment to combat the tobacco epidemic. We call on all governments to prioritize the health of their citizens over the interests of the tobacco industry and to adopt robust tobacco control measures without delay.

Together, we can achieve a future free from the devastating health and societal impacts of tobacco use for young people across the globe.

Sincerely,

Healthcare Workers

Tobacco Control Champion Network