Bloomberg appreciates the ban on new generation cigarettes in Vietnam

Recently, in Hanoi , the Bloomberg Initiative held a meeting on tobacco harm prevention, announcing the decision of the Vietnamese National Assembly to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025.

Recently, in Hanoi, the Bloomberg Initiative held a meeting on tobacco harm prevention, announcing the decision of the Vietnamese National Assembly to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025.

This decision received support from the World Health Organization, with the expectation of better protecting public health, especially the younger generation.

At the meeting, according to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, tobacco use is the cause of many serious diseases such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and causes about 8 million deaths each year worldwide, including more than 108,000 cases in Vietnam.

Delegates attending the meeting. Photo: Le Hao

The estimated economic loss caused by tobacco is 1.14% of GDP, five times higher than the revenue from tobacco taxes. Tobacco harm prevention will continue to be promoted in 2025, including the proposal to increase tobacco taxes, an effective measure to reduce smoking rates in Vietnam.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc emphasized that it is necessary to change the approach to prevent new tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which are increasingly used by young people. He proposed continuing to implement smoke-free environments in hospitals and innovating communication work to suit current trends.

Ms. Betsy Fuller, Senior Director of Public Health Program at Bloomberg Initiative, expressed her congratulations to the Ministry of Health and the National Assembly of Vietnam on the Resolution banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

However, Ms. Fuller also said that tobacco harm prevention work still has many challenges. She emphasized the need to increase tobacco taxes in the National Assembly session in May 2025 and asked the Ministry of Health to develop tools and guidelines to prevent new tobacco products.

Ms. Betsy Fuller also affirmed that the Bloomberg Initiative will continue to accompany the Tobacco Control Fund and partners in Vietnam in the fight against tobacco harm.

E-cigarettes contain nicotine and toxic substances, which can be addictive, affect brain development in adolescents and increase the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer diseases.

Although heated tobacco does not produce smoke like traditional cigarettes, it still emits toxic substances that are harmful to the health of the user and those around them when they inhale secondhand smoke.

Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other international studies confirm that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, although advertised as "alternatives" to traditional cigarettes, still pose the risk of nicotine addiction and serious health problems.

The decision of the Vietnamese National Assembly to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is considered a great victory in the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, contributing to protecting public health and reducing the burden on the health system.

A lung disease expert at Bach Mai Hospital also said that this decision is very correct and timely, especially in the context of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products causing concern among young people.

Ms. Nguyen Thi An, Director of HealthBridge Canada in Vietnam, shared, "We welcome the decision of the National Assembly, as this is an important step forward in protecting the health of the Vietnamese people, especially the younger generation."

According to Ms. An, banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products not only reduces the risk of dangerous diseases but also raises public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also encourages countries to take similar precautions to protect public health, especially as the development of tobacco alternatives is not strictly controlled, which could lead to unpredictable health consequences in the future.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bloomberg-danh-gia-cao-lenh-cam-thuoc-la-the-he-moi-tai-viet-nam-d232223.html