The Ministry of Health has published the draft National Tobacco Control Program covering the years 2017-2021, posting it up for debate on the online platform particip.gov.md.

The Program aims to improve public health by reducing tobacco consumption and ensuring the application of the WHO Framework Convention, ratified by Moldova in 2009, and its Protocols as well as of the EU legislation on tobacco control.

According to the Program, the Moldovan tobacco control legislation will be in line with the relevant EU legislation by 2019. Further, a national system will be created to monitor morbidity and mortality trends related to tobacco consumption. Another provision concerns the early identification and inclusion into counseling programs of up to 80% of the tobacco-smoking population by 2021, and offering of treatment for tobacco addiction.

By 2018, it is planned to create smoking-free workplaces. Taxation measures will also be proposed under the Program.

The implementing cost of the Program is estimated at over 30 million lei, to be obtained from domestic and external sources.

Tobacco consumption is the causing agent of at least six devastating groups of chronic illnesses, including heart conditions, vascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, destructive lung diseases and atherosclerosis.