The twenty measures of doctors against tobacco

2024-02-13 09:41:01

Increasing tobacco taxes, at least to the tax average of other European countries, and prohibiting smoking in public spaces such as terraces, beaches or queues are two of the twenty measures that the Collegiate Medical Organization (OMC) proposes to promote tobacco control. and advance its regulation.

A person holds a cigarette on the terrace of a bar in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. EFE/Miguel Barreto

With this document of anti-tobacco measures, approved by the General Assembly of the WTO, the medical profession contributes its proposals in line with the Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking on which the Ministry of Health is working.

Doctors remember that smoking is an epidemic that causes eight million deaths in the world every year.

The twenty measures against tobacco

These are the twenty anti-tobacco measures proposed by the OMC:

• Rise of taxes on the product to the Western European tax average.
• Ban smoking in shared public spacessuch as restaurant terraces, beaches, queues, etc.
• Prohibit smoking in places frequented by minors.
• Importance of legislating so that any health center with more than 10 doctors has a person responsible for the fight against smoking and those with more than 30 doctors, a Smoking Unit of reference with preferential or exclusive dedication.
• Unify legislatively all tobacco products with nicotine delivery systems, both natural and synthetic.
• Demand the plain packaging of all tobacco and nicotine products.
• Ban flavors added to tobacco and nicotine delivery systems.
• Consolidate in the basic portfolio of the National Health System the drugs authorized by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products for the treatment of smoking and nicotine replacement therapy.
• Promote bells to promote the right of non-smokers to breathe clean air and support their complaints.
• Penalize throwing cigarette butts in public spaces.
• Demand from the tobacco industry the costs of collecting your waste.
• Control advertising exposure to minors in places where tobacco is sold.
• Monitor and sanction covert advertising in the media and the maneuvers of the tobacco companies.
• Demand labelled warning of the presence of single-use plastics in the filter of cigarettes and heated tobacco.
• Promote awareness campaigns citizen to autonomously confront quitting tobacco, with support measures.
• Promote networks of “smoke and nicotine free” environments. Not just “smoke-free”
• Medids for tobacco and nicotine free generations. Even indicating a date of birth after which the sale of tobacco and nicotine products is prohibited.
• Insist to public authorities that the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Controlsigned by Spain, prohibits them from any type of collaboration with the tobacco industry.
• Ensure that in the school centersat 12 years of age, have a clear understanding of the risk posed by nicotine addiction.
• Ensure that at 12 years of age they are aware of the environmental damage attributable to agriculture, trade and tobacco residues.

Infographic provided by OMC