Stories

The ACC plans to request the removal of Saima Wazed Putul from her role as WHO Southeast Asia Region director due to alleged corruption and criminal activities, including fabricated credentials, illegal acquisitions, and financial misconduct. The letter sent through government channels accuses Putul of misusing state resources, extorting funds, and harming Bangladesh's reputation. The ACC filed a case against her and highlighted misappropriation of public funds. ACC's director general emphasized ongoing independent investigations. Putul's continued position at WHO is deemed inappropriate given the corruption allegations.

In the second part of our series looking at Malawi's complicated relationship with tobacco production and smoking, Sahan Lungu joins us to explore whether a holistic approach to tobacco production and smoking could help Malawi minimise the harms related to combustible tobacco use.

Dual users, individuals who smoke cigarettes and vape, are a sizable overlooked group in Canada. Research shows significant health risks if they stop vaping and return to smoking. Strategies such as reducing cigarette consumption and transitioning fully to vaping can lower health risks. Encouragement, lower costs, and improved accessibility for vaping products are crucial. Treating dual users like transitioning drivers or eaters acknowledges progress towards quitting smoking entirely. Supporting them is essential for reducing tobacco-related harm and promoting healthier choices.

To understand factors that led to the escalation, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studied how college students perceived the health risks of e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes. The results showed the perception of the potential harm of e-cigarettes varied based on factors like sex, vaping status, and field of study/work. "We found that non-users and females were less likely to believe that e-cigarettes were less harmful than traditional cigarettes," said M.J. Ruzmyn Vilcassim, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB School of Public Health and lead author. "Conversely, male vapers and users of pod-type devices were more likely to view the devices as less harmful."

Luxembourg is not following neighboring countries and the European Commission in banning vapor devices. The Ministry of Health is monitoring foreign measures to evaluate potential actions. While acknowledging the health risks of high nicotine doses in vape products, the Ministry believes a ban limited to disposable vapes would not be effective. They advocate for a comprehensive approach covering all electronic cigarettes. The Ministry notes the popularity of tobacco tourism due to lower taxes in Luxembourg. A proposed 2023 bill focuses on regulating tobacco products, including flavored vape restrictions and nicotine limits, but excludes disposable e-cigarettes.

Bangladesh has enforced a ban on vapes and nicotine pouch imports to prioritize public health, despite protests from vape trade groups. British American Tobacco plans to expand production in the country, aiming to meet growing cigarette demand. The ban has sparked concerns about depriving adult smokers of safer options and its economic impact. Notably, harm reduction strategies involving low-risk tobacco products have proven successful in reducing smoking rates in other countries like Sweden and New Zealand. The ban aligns with the government's efforts to combat high tobacco consumption rates, particularly among men in Bangladesh.

In 2018, discussions were held on reforming the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) within the WHO. Suggestions to stay in and reform IARC were made based on concerns regarding activist influences and collaborations with US tort lawyers. The US government intervened in IARC decisions, delaying publications and influencing reports. Despite criticisms of the WHO and its political agenda, leaving the organization may lead to limited influence in global health decisions, especially in combating industry relations. The decision to exit the WHO, made by the US in 2020, may result in diminished influence over global health policies and WHO's strategies, including denormalizing industry relations.

The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health addresses the risk of smoking in Canada during National Non-Smoking Week, emphasizing nicotine addiction and vaping's dangers, especially among youth. Recommendations include regulating vaping products like tobacco, restricting marketing, and enhancing enforcement. They propose national consistency in banning flavored products, setting age 21 for sales, and monitoring nicotine vaping's health impacts. Federal and provincial actions should align to maximize youth protection. Awareness campaigns and research on vaping effects are essential, alongside collaboration with Indigenous communities. The Council urges stringent regulations, cessation support, and education to combat nicotine vaping's public health threat.

General practitioners express concern over government funding for vaping kits to aid smokers in quitting under the Smokefree 2025 plan, citing health risks and limited success rates. Despite government claims of reduced smoking rates due to vaping, GP Aotearoa urges for more evidence-based decisions and transparency, mentioning potential risks like lung damage and links to cancer. While the government defends vaping's effectiveness in smoking cessation, GP Aotearoa calls for reassessment and consultation with healthcare professionals. The group remains open to evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking rates and enhance public health, emphasizing the need for further research on vaping's long-term effects.

This survey study including 25 094 smokers aged at least 16 years found that e-cigarettes were both the most commonly used cessation aid (used in 40.2% of quit attempts in 2023-2024) and associated with the highest odds of successful cessation. By contrast, other aids found to be associated with increased odds of success in quitting smoking were used in less than 5% of quit attempts.