More than 100 global experts have slammed the World Health Organisation for a stubborn anti-vaping stance that is contributing to “millions” of avoidable smoking-related deaths.

In an open letter ahead of a global tobacco control meeting next month, the group of independent experts in nicotine science and policy have blasted the WHO for being “dismissive of the potential to transform the tobacco market from high-risk to low-risk products”.

“WHO is rejecting a public health strategy that could avoid millions of smoking-related deaths,” they write.