Global health effects & Strategies

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Globally 1.1 billion people smoke. Each year tobacco causes some five million premature deaths.
• If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today; that is about 650 million people will eventually be killed by tobacco.
• According to these figures, smoking will claim more lives than HIV, tuberculosis, motor vehicle accidents, suicide and homicide combined.

In 1997 the World Bank began a global study on the economics of tobacco control in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim was to provide a sound and comprehensive evidence base for the design of effective tobacco control policies in any country.

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a legally binding treaty negotiated by the 192 WHO Member States. The world's first public health treaty, it provides the basic tools for countries to enact comprehensive tobacco-control legislation.

Australia became the 34th country to ratify the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) on 27 October 2004.

Key findings from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are:

• enact comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;
• obligate the placement of rotating health warnings on tobacco packaging that cover at least 30% (but ideally 50% or more) of the principal display areas;
• ban the use of misleading and deceptive terms such as "light" and "mild" cigarettes;
• protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in workplaces, public transport and indoor public places; and increase tobacco taxes.

To read more about Tobacco and its health effects around the world visit WHO website