Two Former WHO Leaders Warn: Rejecting Harm Reduction Will Cost 100 Million Lives
November 05, 2025 by apnews.com
Two Former WHO Leaders Warn: Rejecting Harm Reduction Will Cost 100 Million Lives
Former WHO staff urges governments to adopt tobacco harm reduction, potentially saving 100 million lives. Experts Derek Yach and Tikki Pang advocate for revising the Tobacco Control Convention before the COP11 meeting. They emphasize the need for policy changes to promote safer nicotine products and criticize barriers to harm reduction in medical practices. Highlighting successful examples like Japan and the US, they warn of the health and economic burden on developing countries. Embracing harm reduction is crucial, especially in regions with high smoking rates. The experts urge a shift in approach towards tobacco control policies for improved public health outcomes globally.
