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News Analysis
Worldwide News and Comment
Free
  1. Marita Hefler
  1. Wellbeing & Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Marita Hefler, Wellbeing & Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia; marita.hefler{at}menzies.edu.au

https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055199

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    All articles written by Marita Hefler unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to: marita.hefler@menzies.edu.au.

    World: World No Tobacco Day around the globe

    World No Tobacco 2019 was celebrated across the globe on 31 May. The focus this year was on lung health, with organisations and individuals highlighting the many ways that tobacco can ‘take your breath away’. In this edition, we provide some highlights from social media.

    Figure 1

    Photos posted by CEHURD, a non-profit health and human rights organisation in Uganda supporting vulnerable communities. Source: Twitter/CEHURD.

    Figure 2

    In Ghana, the dangers of shisha smoking were a major theme for World No Tobacco Day. Source: Twitter/FDA Ghana.

    Figure 3

    Mock-up of Canadian plain package in slide and shell format.

    Figure 4

    Ad by tobacco company JTI-Macdonald opposing plain packaging.

    Brazil: government acts to recover tobacco costs from industry

    The local subsidiaries of British American Tobacco and Philip Morris between them have 90% of the Brazilian cigarette manufacturing and trading market. While the enormous health costs induced by use of their products are borne by the country, the majority of profits go abroad. On 21 May this year, the Brazilian Office of the Attorney General took action to change that, by filing a civil public action for the tobacco companies to pay the state for the cost of treating whose diseases are caused by tobacco products.

    If successful, the tobacco companies will be required to reimburse Brazil’s public health network the costs for the last 5 years of providing treatment for 26 health conditions arising from exposure to cigarette smoke. The case also includes a request for projected future costs for both healthcare and moral damages. Tobacco use is responsible for 150 000 deaths per year in Brazil, with costs estimated to be as high as US$14.1 billion.

    The move was praised by public health groups including the WHO and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK). CTFK President Matthew …

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