Malaysia's Tobacco Endgame 2040

The evidence-based self-help manual "Stop smoking, start vaping" is authored by Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, an expert in smoking cessation and harm reduction in Australia. According to Mendelsohn, as quoted by Focus M, "For many adult smokers in Malaysia who are unable to quit by other means, it should be encouraged as an aid to quitting, as is the case in the UK and New Zealand.

The Malaysian government's "Tobacco Endgame 2040" is a strategic plan to make Malaysia a smoke-free country by 2040. As part of this plan, the local government recently announced a proposal to ban the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, Vapes and e-cigarettes to anyone born after 2005.

Jamaluddin stated that it is illegal to sell tobacco and other smoking products to individuals born after 2005. He added that Malaysia believes this will have a significant impact on preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases.

The Health Minister stated that one day, the next generation "will no longer know what cigarettes are". This is in line with Mendelsohn's perspective. Dr. Arifin Fi, a local doctor in Malaysia with experience in addiction treatment, emphasized that reducing tobacco harm (THR) methods will help address smoking problems across the country.

The correct balance has been achieved in reducing the harmful effects of tobacco.

Mendelsohn added that without an approved safer alternative product, the country is unlikely to reach its smoke-free target. "If it is not in place, Malaysia is highly unlikely to achieve the smoke-free goal in 2040," explained THR experts, emphasizing the need for a regulatory system that is conducive to reporting harmful effects and recalling unsafe products.

Simultaneously, experts point out that regulations on smoking should aim to provide high-quality, regulated products for adult smokers while also limiting access to these products for non-smoking youth. The key is to strike a balance between these two goals.

Source: VapingPost

Malaysia's Tobacco Endgame: 2040 Malaysia has set an ambitious goal to achieve a "tobacco endgame" by the year 2040. This means reducing the number of smokers in the country to less than 5% of the population. To achieve this goal, the government plans to implement a series of measures, including increasing taxes on tobacco products, banning advertising and promotion of such products, and providing effective cessation services for smokers who want to quit. The tobacco endgame is a growing movement around the world, with several countries like New Zealand and Finland also setting similar goals. This initiative aims to create a smoke-free future, where tobacco-related illnesses and deaths will be significantly reduced. Malaysia's plan has received support from health organizations and advocacy groups, who believe that it will be a significant step towards improving public health and reducing healthcare costs. However, there are concerns that the country's large tobacco industry may resist these measures, and that the government may not have the political will to implement them effectively. Nevertheless, Malaysia's tobacco endgame is an important development in the global fight against tobacco use, and it will be interesting to see how the country progresses towards achieving this ambitious goal.