Thailand, WHO join hands to tackle e-cigarettes

The WHO Director-General noted that tobacco companies specifically target young people with flavoured products and that in some countries, these items are sold near schools, contributing to rising use among youth.

Minister attached to the Thai Prime Minister's Office Jiraporn Sindhuprai (right) and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at their recent meeting in Geneva. (Photo: thainews.prd.go.th)

Hanoi (NNT/VNA) – The Thai government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have agreed to cooperate on protecting youth from e-cigarettes and promoting public well-being.

Minister attached to the Thai Prime Minister's Office Jiraporn Sindhuprai recently met with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland.

The meeting took place during the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection. The minister was accompanied by Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Secretary-General of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board.

The WHO Director-General praised the close cooperation between the two parties and admired Thailand's strong and accessible public health system. He highlighted the country's Universal Healthcare Coverage policy, also known as the "30-baht" universal health care scheme, as an outstanding global model for health equity that other countries could adapt.

Both sides exchanged views on protecting youth from harmful products, particularly e-cigarettes. Dr. Tedros noted that tobacco companies specifically target young people with flavoured products and that in some countries, these items are sold near schools, contributing to rising use among youth.

Minister Jiraporn stated that the Thai government is focused on this issue, following a directive from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in February. She said efforts to prevent importation and crack down on online and physical stores have led to more seizures in recent months than in all of the previous year, making e-cigarettes harder for youth to access. The government is also running awareness campaigns in schools about the dangers of e-cigarettes.

The minister affirmed that consumer protection aligns with WHO's mission to ensure public well-being. She stated that Thailand's Consumer Protection Board is ready to work with WHO, especially on tackling digital-era health risks and running joint public awareness campaigns./.

VNA