Tobacco Harm Reduction policies could save 280,000 lives in Czechia, according to new report
23 September, Prague – Improved Tobacco Harm Reduction measures, including better access to nicotine alternatives such as e-cigarettes, could save up to 280,000 lives in Czechia, according to a major new report published today.
The new study by leading international public health experts, titled Tobacco harm reduction and better treatment of lung cancer could save 280 000 lives in Czechia by 2060, highlights how the deadly toll of tobacco could be massively reduced by incorporating THR into public health policymaking.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts a modest decline in smoking prevalence in Czechia, from 30% to 26.5% by 2025, smoking still claims 17,600 lives annually in the country.
Moreover, Czechia boasts a female smoking rate of 26%, which is one of the highest in the world. This has resulted in an extremely high lung cancer death rate among Czech women, which is almost double the death rate for breast cancer.
Dr. Derek Yach, one of the authors of the report, said:
“The slight decrease in Czechia’s smoking rates is failing to halt thousands of unnecessary premature deaths in the country. It is crucial that policymakers take positive action. Our report shows that integrating less harmful alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, into Czechia’s harm reduction framework has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.”
Countries such as Sweden and Japan serve as powerful examples of what pragmatic tobacco harm reduction policies can achieve. Sweden, for instance, is on track to reach a 5% smoking rate this year, a threshold at which the country is considered smoke free. A key factor in the success of both countries is the availability of less harmful alternative products.
Dr Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden and co-author of the report, said:
“Our message to the Czech government is clear. Existing harm reduction strategies must be strengthened with proven harm reduction strategies. By making less harmful alternative products more accessible, acceptable and affordable to smokers, policymakers now have a prime opportunity to save 280,000 lives”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact
Smoke Free Sweden
Jessica Perkins
info@smokefreesweden.org
www.smokefreesweden.org
About Smoke Free Sweden
Smoke Free Sweden is a movement that encourages other countries to follow the Swedish experience when it comes to Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden is about to become the first ‘smoke free’ European country, with a smoking rate below 5 percent. This remarkable achievement can be attributed to Sweden’s open attitude towards alternative nicotine products.
For more information on Sweden’s successful approach to becoming a smoke free nation, please visit www.smokefreesweden.org.