WHO Defends Malaysia’s Anti-Tobacco Award Despite Nicotine Vape Manufacturing Licence
June 27, 2025 by galencentre.org
WHO Defends Malaysia’s Anti-Tobacco Award Despite Nicotine Vape Manufacturing Licence
WHO defended awarding Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad despite Malaysia granting a nicotine vape license, citing achievements up to a certain point. The award acknowledged efforts in tobacco control legislation and commitments. The WHO highlighted the importance of protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference and monitoring new tobacco products like vapes. Malaysia achieved best-practice levels in four out of six WHO MPOWER tobacco control measures. These measures include monitoring tobacco use, protecting from smoke, warning about dangers, and raising taxes on tobacco. Malaysia reached moderate levels in offering help to quit and enforcing bans on tobacco advertising. Other countries are close to full MPOWER package implementation.
20.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 5.2 million current smokers in Malaysia 40.80% of men are current smokers but only 0.50% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
