NewKerala.com

Laos Loses 6,000+ Annually to Tobacco, Faces 3.6 Billion Kip Loss

Health officials in Laos report that tobacco-related diseases claim over 6,000 lives each year, resulting in economic losses exceeding 3.6 billion Lao kip. The National Committee for Tobacco Control, chaired by the Health Minister, reviewed progress and highlighted ongoing challenges like enforcing the e-cigarette ban. Minister Baykham Khattiya warned the tobacco industry is a major threat to public health and development, driving non-communicable diseases. The government, with WHO support, recently held a workshop to strengthen policies against tobacco industry interference and improve enforcement.

Key Points: Tobacco Kills 6,000 Yearly in Laos, Causes Major Economic Loss

  • 6,000+ annual tobacco deaths
  • Economic loss over 3.6bn kip
  • E-cigarette ban enforcement a challenge
  • Cross-sector cooperation urged
2 min read

Tobacco-related illnesses kill over 6,000 annually in Laos

Over 6,000 Lao die annually from tobacco, costing over 3.6 billion kip. Health Minister warns of industry threat, calls for stricter enforcement.

"The tobacco industry remains a major threat to public health and national development. - Baykham Khattiya"

Vientiane, April 6

More than 6,000 people in Laos die annually from tobacco-related diseases, resulting in economic losses exceeding 3.6 billion Lao kip, health officials said.

The figure was delivered at a meeting of the National Committee for Tobacco Control, chaired by Lao Minister of Health Baykham Khattiya. The session reviewed progress in implementing tobacco control measures, Lao News Agency reported on Monday.

Officials also highlighted ongoing challenges, such as enforcing the ban on electronic cigarettes, the rise of new tobacco products, and legal barriers to strengthening regulations.

Speaking at the meeting last Friday, Baykham warned that the tobacco industry remains a major threat to public health and national development, contributing to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and chronic respiratory illnesses.

Emphasizing that legislation alone is not enough, she called for stricter enforcement and stronger cross-sector cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported.

On March 12, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance had convened a national workshop to strengthen protection of public health policies from tobacco industry interference and enhance enforcement of the country's ban on electronic cigarettes.

In addition to the workshop, the delegation paid courtesy visits to key line ministries to reinforce actions on tobacco control, including the Ministries of Health, Finance, Industry and Commerce, and the Office of the Supreme People's Prosecutor of Lao PDR.

The workshop brought together representatives from line ministries, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the WHO Headquarters, the WHO Lao PDR Country Office, WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on Article 5.3, experts from Australia, Thailand and Cambodia, as well as development partners.

It provides a valuable opportunity for Lao PDR to learn from regional and global experiences in safeguarding public health policies from tobacco industry influence and strengthening implementation of existing tobacco control measures, including the national ban on e-cigarettes.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Cross-sector cooperation is the real challenge. In our states, you see tobacco ads near schools despite bans. Laos trying to learn from Thailand and Australia is a good step. Hope our policymakers are also paying attention to such regional workshops.
A
Aman W
6,000 lives in a smaller country like Laos is a huge number. It shows how deadly this habit is. The focus on e-cigarettes is important – they are becoming a new gateway for the youth here too. 🚭
S
Sarah B
While the intent is good, I hope the approach isn't just punitive. Public health needs awareness and support for quitting, especially in rural areas. Just banning things often creates a black market, as we've seen.
V
Vikram M
The tobacco industry interference part is crucial. They have deep pockets and influence politics everywhere, including India. Protecting policy from corporate lobbying is a constant fight for public health.
K
Karthik V
It's good to see neighboring countries taking this seriously. The economic loss from healthcare costs and lost productivity is a national drain. Hope Laos succeeds, it will set a positive example for the region.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50