The Hanoitimes - The Southeast Asian Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) has welcomed an important decision of Vietnam’s National Assembly to approve the Law on Tobacco Control, saying it will safeguard community health.
The Hanoitimes - The Southeast Asian Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) has welcomed an important decision of Vietnam ’s National Assembly to approve the Law on Tobacco Control, saying it will safeguard community health. SEATCA Director Bungon Ritthiphakdee acknowledged the lengths that Vietnam has gone to have the law entered onto the country’s statute book. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam remains one of the top 15 countries in the world to have the highest number of smokers. Every year, more than 40,000 Vietnamese die of smoking related diseases. The cost of treating diseases caused by smoking, such as lung cancer, coronary and respiratory problems, is over VND1 trillion (US$48 million) every year. The 13th National Assembly passed the Law on Tobacco Control on June 18 during its current session. So far, all ASEAN members, except Cambodia and Indonesia , have introduced laws on tobacco control. KDT |