WHO praises Brazil’s move against int’l tobacco firms
Brazil was praised by the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control after the government of the Latin American country demanded major tobacco manufacturers compensation over public health costs for the treatment of tobacco-related diseases, as described in a note issued last week in Geneva.
A role model
“We applaud the bold decision by the Brazilian government to seek refund from multinational tobacco companies for the social and economic costs arising from the suffering and the treatment for tobacco-related diseases. It will benefit the Brazilian population greatly,” said Katia Campos, a coordinator from the office of Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO in Brazil.
“This action serves as an example for other countries, both to encourage them to take similar measures and to provide them with legal support. We of the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization will be always ready to support the country cope with the burden smoking brings to people and the national health systems,” she stressed.
Treatment
Last week, Brazil’s the Office of the Prosecutor-General filed a lawsuit against the giants in the field and their headquarters overseas. The measure covers costs for the treatment of patients suffering from 26 diseases linked to tobacco products and the exposure to tobacco smoke. The suit also covers proportionate compensation for future costs and collective moral damages stemming from high public health costs Tens of billions of reais are estimated to be spent every year in the provision of treatment in the country’s public health care system, according to official figures.
Priorities
The document mentions a demand made by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to have governments adopt the necessary measure to deal with accountability, including compensation. The treaty was implemented by 181 countries and aims to enable these countries to have the right to protect their public health care.
Tobacco smoking is among the biggest threat to public health ever, and kills over 7 million people a year, as per WHO figures.
*With information from UN News
