BMJ  2008;336:299 (9 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39483.532361.DB

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WHO report warns deaths from tobacco could rise beyond eight million a year by 2030

¹ Geneva

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Unless efforts are increased to stem the global tobacco epidemic, which currently kills 5.4 million people a year from lung cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, the toll will rise to more than eight million by 2030, with most deaths occurring in poor countries, a World Health Organization report warns.

"Tragically, with more than 80% of those deaths occurring in the developing world, the epidemic will strike hardest in countries whose rapidly growing economies offer their citizens the hope of a better life," said Margaret Chan, WHO director general.

But Dr Chan in a preface to the report argues that "prompt action is crucial" now to prevent this dire scenario.

"We cannot let this happen," the WHO chief says, and she calls on governments around the globe to take "urgent action" to implement six key tobacco control policies.

The six strategies are to monitor the epidemic and prevention policies; to . . . [Full text of this article]

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