The tobacco industry plays a dangerous role in disrupting real development, particularly in less developed countries, as tobacco and its derivatives are the true enemies of human health. The more money the tobacco industry makes, the more money countries spend in order to treat their citizens for tobacco-related diseases. This phenomenon affects third-world countries more.

The owners of tobacco companies and their subsidiaries are mostly from developed nations. They spend huge amounts of money in order to develop the industry. They promote it and make huge profits from it. Although these companies place health warnings like “Tobacco kills and destroys life,” they also increase their promotion and advertisements at the expense of human health. The larger problem is that decision-makers in developed countries are the ones who support the tobacco industry. They only care about their economies without caring about people’s health.

Studies have revealed that more than seven million people die every year due to direct use of tobacco, and around 1.3 million non-smokers die due to passive smoking. Most of these dead people were of productive age, mostly in developing countries. So, there is a hidden war between tobacco industries and policymakers. We do not find it strange why there is lack of development in most developing countries, as smoking has become one of the means the developed world is using to keep the third world countries sick and underdeveloped.

There will be a conference in Kuwait at the end of the month of October about ‘the tobacco industry and the conflict of interest’. This conference, which will be under the patronage of health ministries, may unveil the secret ways and strategies the tobacco companies are using to deceive people and promote their industries. Any developing country that wants to improve its economy and develop its services must (first) declare war on smoking. Without this war, all developmental plans will fail. Development is linked to good health. Without good health, there will not be effective personnel to drive the development.

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