n New York on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society. “The FCTC has been a revolutionary driving force behind tobacco control in the developing world,” he continued, adding that tobacco control is a “best buy” as it affects all four major chronic diseases, with tobacco control the cheapest and most successful route in combating these diseases due to the ability to increase revenue by raising taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. While there is no commitment of resources, the Political Declaration mentions the need to “promote all possible means to identify and mobilize adequate, predictable and sustained financial resources... and to consider support for voluntary, cost-effective, innovative approaches for long-term financing of NCD prevention and control.” It also made reference to the “continued inclusion of NCDs in development cooperation agendas and initiatives” and mention of national ownership of aid priorities.
Smoking prevention attracted much attention in many countries, including strategies for reducing tobacco use, describing action taken on the taxation, advertising and regulation fronts and the banning of smoking in public spaces.
Some of the efforts by developing countries were quite innovative. New Zealand’s Justice Minister, Simon Power, said the country aimed to be smoke-free by 2025. Australia’s Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, displayed a prototype for its plain packaging legislation, which later received Royal Assent on December 1, to a round of applause. She told the Assembly that Big Tobacco was fighting desperately to put a stop to their efforts, but that the government was resolved to move forward.
However, some of the efforts in the developing world were, for them, quite cutting edge as representatives from these countries outlined their plans to control tobacco use. Delano Bouterse, President of Suriname, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noted that they developed a strategic plan of action including minimum health standards for tobacco. Agnès Binagwaho, Minister of Health for Rwanda, told the Assembly that her country used tobacco taxes to fund welfare services for its population and had started clinics to detect and fight cancer.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan furthered UN Secretary-General’s statement regarding the immorality of some big businesses by targeting the tobacco industry. She called on the heads of government to stand “rock hard” against the “despicable” efforts of the tobacco industry and their highly aggressive tactics by increasing tobacco taxes and prices to reduce demand, protect health and provide governments considerable revenue. She added that, while some might argue that income from the sale of tobacco and unhealthy foods are indispensable during an economic downturn, this short-sighted view is belied by the significant long-term costs.
Actions speak louder than words
Rudyard Spencer, Health Minister for Jamaica, expressed some disappointment with the declaration, stating that it provided a good platform for ongoing discussion on NCDs, but that it did not advocate more decisive action that would commit the international community to increased and sustained resources to achieve its goal.
Ban Ki-moon challenged member states to step up their own accountability for carrying out the declaration, suggesting, “If this document remains just a set of words, we will have failed in our obligation toward future generations. But if we give this Political Declaration meaning through multiple, concerted and tough actions, we will honour our responsibility to safeguard our future.”
Note 1: Communicable diseases are also known as infectious diseases, clinically evident illnesses, with characteristic medical signs and/or symptoms of disease, resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism, such as HIV/AIDS.
The Framework Convention
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization. The W