Sweden has become global leader in tobacco harm reduction
With more than 25.4 million users
and a high prevalence of smoking-related illnesses, tobacco use is still a
major public health concern in Pakistan.
The smoking rate is still stubbornly
high in spite of numerous tobacco control initiatives. Pakistan can address
this by using Sweden's effective tobacco harm reduction (THR) tactics as a
template for lowering smoking rates and enhancing public health.
By incorporating superior nicotine
product substitutes like snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes into a larger
tobacco control plan, Sweden has achieved impressive results and emerged as a
global leader in tobacco harm reduction.
With just 5.6% of adults smoking,
Sweden has one of the lowest smoking rates in the world as a result of this
strategy. Because of its emphasis on harm reduction, the nation has much lower
rates of tobacco-related illnesses, such as a 41% lower cancer rate than the
European average.
The legalization and marketing of
safer smoking cessation methods are responsible for this achievement.
Additionally, the nation made investments to raise public awareness of the
advantages of harm reduction goods, which increased their acceptance and usage.
The Swedish government also did its
part by enacting laws that encouraged the use of harm reduction items and made
them available and reasonably priced for all.
"While many European countries
have followed the World Health Organization's guidelines for reducing smoking,
Sweden went further and combined proven tobacco control with forward-looking
innovation strategies," says Federico N. Fernandez, CEO of We Are
Innovation, a global network of over 40 think tanks and NGOs and a visionary
leader committed to driving innovation and change.
The outcomes have been astounding.
By 2023, Sweden had the lowest percentage of smokers in the European Union
(EU), having fallen sharply from over 15% in the mid-2000s to just 5.6%.
Although Sweden enacted evidence-based laws, such as prohibitions on
advertising, public smoking bans, and higher taxes on traditional cigarettes,
many contend that the country's greatest innovation was the use of substitute
nicotine products to lessen the harm caused by tobacco.
Pakistan's strategy for tobacco
control, on the other hand, has mostly concentrated on conventional tactics like
taxes, limitations on advertising, and prohibitions on smoking in public
places.
Despite their importance, these initiatives haven't been enough to drastically
lower smoking rates. A more thorough THR approach is something Pakistan can
implement to improve outcomes.
Following Sweden's lead, Pakistan's government ought to encourage the
commercialization of these substitutes and lower taxes on them.
Not only will this help to debunk
myths and misconceptions and raise awareness of the advantages of THR products,
but it will also help to lower their cost for customers.
Pakistan may drastically lower smoking rates and enhance public health outcomes
by implementing a comprehensive tobacco harm reduction strategy that is modeled
after Sweden's successful approach.
A healthy future for Pakistan may be possible with the legalization and
promotion of safer substitutes, as well as with supportive legislation and
public education.
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