Policy Writing: Tobacco Control

The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation represents over 500,000 pharmacy students and organizations in over 90 different countries worldwide. The IPSF Asia Pacific Regional Office (IPSF APRO), represents approximately 55,000 members from 19 countries. IPSF APRO empowers its Member Organizations and the public to rise up against a variety of health issues through education and awareness.

Tobacco use is a major risk factor in mortality. According to the WHO Western Pacific Region, an estimate of 1 million deaths each year in the Asia-Pacific Region are cardiovascular diseases caused by tobacco use.¹ WHO also determined that tobacco has detrimental effects not only to health but also to household income.² WHO sets an estimate of 1.3 trillion US dollars to the total economic costing of smoking.

Pharmacists, being the most accessible health care professionals, readily provides smoking cessation guidance to tobacco users.³ In addition to this, pharmacists provide pharmacologic interventions to tobacco users through nicotine replacements therapies (NRTs) and non-nicotine pharmacotherapies. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) acknowledged pharmacists’ integral role in such activities in their document entitled Pharmacists Against Tobacco.⁴ This document outlined the various smoking cessation programs of the FIP Western Pacific Region pharmaceutical associations in Taiwan, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Australia.

To assist the Tobacco Control advocacy, IPSF APRO released a booklet on 29^th May 2020 by drawing attention to the importance of tobacco/smoking cessation. This booklet addresses dealing with tobacco cessation withdrawal symptoms, how friends and family can help smokers to stop smoking, and the possible alternatives to tobacco use. Consequently, IPSF APRO also disseminated valuable information about smoking through publications in social media with the official hashtags #TobaccoBreakup (IPSF APRO World No Tobacco Day Theme) and #TobaccoExposed (WHO World No Tobacco Day Theme).

IPSF APRO shall continue to promote and advocate for Tobacco Control through publications, professional education, and workshops. IPSF APRO recognizes the integral role of its members in minimising the impact of tobacco to mortality and morbidity; therefore, IPSF APRO shall put out its best effort to equip its members with the skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate tobacco cessation programs. Furthermore, IPSF APRO encourages the public to join the Tobacco Control movement by educating themselves with relevant information about Tobacco Control and relaying the same to their friends and family.

References: 

1. World Health Organization: WHO. Smoking causes 1 million cardiovascular deaths in Asia Pacific each year [Internet]. Who.int. World Health Organization: WHO; 2018 [cited 2020 June 29]. Available from: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/detail/31-05-2018-smoking-causes-1- million-cardiovascular-deaths-in-asia-pacific-each-year
2. World Health Organization: WHO. Tobacco: Impact [Internet]. Who.int. World Health Organization: WHO [cited 2020 June 29]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/tobacco#tab=tab_1
3. Aizawa M, Kuroyama M. The pharmacist's role in smoking cessation [Internet]. Nihon rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2013 Mar 1;71(3):515-9. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/23631246
4. Ware, J. Pharmacists Against Tobacco [Internet]. International Pharmaceutical Federation: FIP. Available from: https://www.fip.org/projectsfip/pharmacistsagainsttobacco/NO9Ware.pdf

Policy writing written by: 

IPSF APRO Regional Secretary Subcommittee 2019-20

Mr. Bill Whilson A. Baljon

Policy Writing review by:

IPSF APRO Secretary 2019-20

Ms. Wendy Yu- Wun Jian