IUHPE President Michael
Sparks (center, with large white ID badge), poses with representatives from
health promotion organizations after having signed the petition to increase
hazardous warnings on cigarette packs.
Warunya Thongrod
About 1,000 international health professionals attending the 21st
International Union for Health Promotion and Education conference in Pattaya
signed a petition supporting the Public Health Ministry in its fight to
impose stronger warning labels on cigarettes over objections from the
tobacco industry.
IUHPE President Michael Sparks told the media Aug. 28 he supported a
regulation originally set to take effect Oct. 2 that would increase the
percentage of a cigarette pack covered by graphic pectoral warnings from 55
percent to 85 percent. The Central Administrative Court suspended imposition
the regulation Aug. 23 after tobacco giant Philip Morris sued the ministry
June 26. Philip Morris is seeking abolition of the entire cigarette-warnings
law and requested an injunction against the new regulation until its case is
decided.
Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong said Aug. 29 that the ministry
would appeal the injunction before the Sept. 22 deadline.
The Aug. 25-29 IUHPE meeting at the Peach Convention Center in Jomtien Beach
set out to examine the best investments for health, the different views that
shape health policy, investors in health-promotion systems, challenges to
developing and implementing health policies, and innovations transforming
health promotion.
Sparks called Thailand’s cigarette warnings some of the strongest in the
world and backed the ministry’s appeal, saying the regulation is an
important and efficient investment in public health that sets a good example
to other countries.
“To promote good health for citizens in Thailand, it is the duty of public
agencies to issue controls, particularly on cigarette consumption,” he said.
“If measures are implemented, they will be considered as a successful
investment since citizens will face fewer hazards from cigarettes. The law
that is being pushed by Ministry of Public Health is consistent with the
World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that has
been signed on by more 177 countries.
“Many countries in the world have already implemented such guidelines by
increasing the warning-picture percentage to 87.5 percent,” noted Dr. Prakit
Vathesatogkit of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation. “The purpose
of this law is, of course, to reduce the rate of smoking amongst citizens
including youths. And if we accomplish this, we will be another country that
has made some progress empowering citizens to reduce smoking.”
