Health professional organizations and tobacco control
The Preamble of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) recognizes the role of health professional organizations in tobacco control.
"...the special contribution of non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society not affiliated with the tobacco industry, including health professional bodies, women’s, youth, environmental and consumer groups, and academic and health care institutions, to tobacco control efforts nationally and internationally and the vital importance of their participation national and international tobacco control efforts."
The Tobacco Free Initiative organized a meeting with representatives of international health professional organizations from 28-30 January 2004 in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of this meeting was to explore with representatives from various international health professional organizations (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, etc.) potential ways in which they could contribute to tobacco control/public health goals. Their potential role in the signature, ratification and implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was also discussed.
A 'code of practice' for health professional organizations was developed as a result of the meeting. This outlines the potential role of health professional organizations in treatment of tobacco dependence and tobacco control.
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WHO informal meeting of health professional organizations and tobacco control
Geneva, Switzerland, 28-30 January 2004.
Adopted code of practice - Press release: Health professionals to promote a new code of conduct on tobacco control
- WNTD 2005: the role of health professionals on tobacco control