KUWAIT: The GCC should increase taxes on tobacco products to 73 percent to align with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, a conference recommended Tuesday. The International Tobacco Control Conference, held on October 27-28, 2024, in Kuwait, said GCC countries should also allocate financial and human resources to enforce tobacco control laws. It focused on battling conflict of interest in tobacco control efforts, calling on Arab countries to investigate the relationships between decision-makers and tobacco companies.

The drafting committee of the conference extended its thanks to the leadership, government and people of Kuwait for their hospitality and sound organization of the conference. It also thanked Health Minister Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi for his patronage and attendance of the opening ceremony, and for his support of efforts of tobacco control, particularly regarding tobacco laws and economies. Gratitude was also extended to the conference Chairman Dr Khalid Al-Saleh and members of the Board of Kuwait Smoking and Cancer Prevention Society, and Dr Hussa Al-Shaheen in particular.

The conference produced several other recommendations aimed at enhancing tobacco control efforts at both the GCC and Arab regional levels.

At the GCC level, the conference emphasized the need for establishment of national observatories to monitor tobacco-related activities and conduct research according to WHO standards. The conference also called for requiring all tobacco control professionals to sign conflict of interest disclosure documents. Additionally, advocacy programs should be developed to raise awareness among decision-makers, and policies regarding new tobacco products must be reviewed and enhanced.

The conference also emphasized the need to support epidemiological studies assessing the economic burden of smoking, as well as to collaborate with government sectors and NGOs in executing evidence-based awareness campaigns leveraging social media and AI. Organizing programs targeting new tobacco products and addressing misleading marketing practices by tobacco companies is crucial. Investment in AI for awareness initiatives and the creation of a Gulf federation of NGOs focused on tobacco control to enhance coordination and knowledge exchange were also recommended.

At the Arab and regional level, recommendations include preparing an Arab initiative involving government, private, and NGO participation to raise awareness about the harms of smoking with a clear execution timeline. The Arab League should conduct a research study on the harmful effects of smoking, financed by the environment ministries of Arab countries.

The WHO’s support for NGOs to enhance their roles in monitoring tobacco companies and promoting transparency is vital. Reducing the influence of tobacco companies must be included in global noncommunicable disease meetings, along with tightening controls on targeted advertising and training media personnel to combat such practices. NGOs should participate in national tobacco control programs to address noncommunicable diseases, while studies focusing on the economic impact of smoking should be prioritized. Finally, investigating the relationships between decision-makers and tobacco companies is essential.