Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Smoking remains one of the leading causes of non-communicable diseases and deaths worldwide, placing a significant burden on healthcare systems.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people annually, including around 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Additionally, the economic costs of tobacco consumption are staggering, amounting to billions of dollars each year in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

Despite efforts to reduce tobacco consumption, smoking remains a serious global health issue. According to Health Data, in 2019, approximately 1.1 billion people smoked worldwide. Although the global smoking prevalence has decreased from 22.7% in 2007 to 17% in 2021, as reported by the Tobacco Atlas, the absolute number of smokers has not decreased and still exceeds 1 billion due to population growth.

In Uzbekistan, the prevalence of tobacco consumption among adults aged 15 and older was 17.6% in 2020, a slight decrease from 17.8% in 2019, according to CEIC Data.

Governments in various countries are implementing different measures to reduce tobacco consumption, including raising taxes on tobacco products, banning advertising, issuing graphic health warnings, and enforcing smoke-free policies. The WHO’s MPOWER strategy includes key initiatives to reduce tobacco consumption, emphasizing monitoring, smoke-free protection, smoking cessation programs, and awareness campaigns. However, despite these efforts, the number of smokers worldwide remains high.

In some regions, including Uzbekistan, policymakers are considering legislative restrictions on smokeless products, including heated tobacco systems. These products, which heat tobacco rather than burning it, are considered by scientific and medical experts in developed countries as a potential solution for reducing harm for current smokers. However, experts argue that such bans may overlook the benefits of reducing harmful chemicals released during tobacco combustion, while also depriving smokers of the opportunity to transition to alternatives that may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

Fred de Wilde, President for Southeast Asia, the CIS, the Middle East, and Africa at Philip Morris International, emphasized the importance of harm reduction and the challenges the company faces in promoting smokeless products.

Reflecting on the ten-year experience with smokeless alternatives, he noted: "Initially, we thought smokers would quickly adopt these devices, but that did not happen as expected. We realized that a personal approach and continuous support are necessary to help smokers transition to smokeless alternatives. With the support provided, over 70% of users in Europe have successfully switched to smokeless alternatives and have not returned to smoking."

De Wilde emphasized that effective regulatory frameworks are key to success. He noted that in countries where smokeless products are treated the same as cigarettes, efforts to help smokers transition to smokeless alternatives are significantly hindered. He called for the development of regulatory measures based on scientific evidence, stating:

"If you know someone who smokes and you see these products reduce harmful substances by 95%, wouldn’t it make sense to offer them the switch?"

Scientific research consistently identifies the combustion of tobacco as the primary source of harm in smoking. Smokeless products, such as heated tobacco systems, eliminate burning, reducing exposure to toxic substances.

Companies have invested significant resources in scientific research to confirm the potential of these products in reducing harm.

De Wilde pointed out that after reviewing a million pages of evidence, the U.S. FDA authorized the marketing of one of their products as a tobacco product with modified (reduced) risk.

Nevertheless, people in many countries remain skeptical of these findings, often influenced by misinformation or lack of access to scientific data about the pros and cons of smokeless products.

De Wilde noted, "In some developed economies, we face apathy. Governments have other pressing issues, and anti-tobacco organizations spread misinformation to discredit our efforts."

He pointed to positive examples, particularly Japan and Sweden, where regulators are more open to smokeless alternatives. He emphasized the importance of an open regulatory environment, stating:

"Countries like Japan and Sweden have achieved great success in reducing smoking rates by introducing smokeless products. By creating an environment where smokers can access better alternatives, they have been able to lower smoking prevalence."

The global fight against tobacco harm requires a balanced approach. While no one should start smoking, providing less harmful alternatives to existing smokers is a pragmatic step.

Politicians must engage in open dialogue with scientific experts and industry leaders to create effective, evidence-based regulatory measures. The potential ban on smokeless products in Uzbekistan highlights the need for greater awareness of the role these technologies can play in reducing harm.

As de Wilde aptly concluded: "Science supports the logic. With regulatory frameworks, investment, and collaboration, we can significantly reduce tobacco-related harm."