More than 5,200 persons die annually because of active or passive smoking in Moldova. One quarter of the country’s population (25.3%) smoke actively, including 43.5% of the men and 5.6% of the women. Smoking is one of the most acceptable habits among teens. Contacted by IPN for a comment, Gennady Țurcanu, programs coordinator at the Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS), said the Republic of Moldova is among the countries with the highest rate of deaths and diseases due to smoking because the tobacco industry enjoys powerful lobby at the level of decision-making authorities.
According to Gennady Țurcanu, at policy level, there is an international treaty adopted by the UN, to which Moldova is a party. This is called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization. It contains a number of instruments for improving the population’s health by reducing tobacco use. The rise in excise duties on tobacco products is the most cost-efficient measure by budget resources can be obtained and with which health promotion measures can be financed, including giving up of smoking, prevention and combating of smuggling and illicit cigarette trade. This would have an impact primarilyon the poor sections and the young people. If the tobacco products are more expensive, they easier give up smoking because they do not have financial possibilities to buy them. Moldova now has one of the lowest levels of excise duties in the countries of the region. A policy of loyalty to tobacco products is now maintained in Moldova. Through this loyalty, the tobacco products become accessible to the population, especially smoking poor people and young people.
The incoherent tobacco control policy of the past two years is another measure that influenced the maintaining of a higher rate of tobacco use in Moldova. In 2015, the MPs adopted a law on tobacco control that was compliant with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but in 2017, this law was modified and all the tobacco control measures for heated tobacco products were excluded, the advertising, trade and others being permitted. During two years since the modified was adopted, a lot of persons, including those who never smoked, started or continued to intensely use such products owing to information and promotional campaigns. In 2019, the law was again amended and only online sale of these products was allowed. The law came into force not long ago and its effect cannot be yet assessed.
Each third Thursday of November, on the initiative of the National Tobacco Control Coordination Council, Moldova marks the National No Smoking Day. This year, the slogan is “One Day without Smoking! Each Day”.
Worldwide, tobacco use causes over 8 million deaths each year. Over 1 million people die because of secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco use is also responsible for 25% of all cancer deaths globally and increases the risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
