Author: Dr. Eduardo Bianco, Director, Addiction Training Program for Health Professionals
20 Years of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: A Public Health Milestone
Twenty years ago, the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) marked a turning point in global health.
As the first global public health treaty under the auspices of WHO, the FCTC has transformed tobacco control, providing countries with a comprehensive framework to protect current and future generations from the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tobacco use.
The FCTC has catalyzed tobacco control efforts and inspired nations worldwide to implement evidence-based policies. My country, Uruguay, would not have achieved significant progress in tobacco control without the influence of the FCTC.
The treaty includes both supply and demand control measures and represents the first international agreement addressing an addictive substance through this paradigm. Its provisions include smoke-free environments, graphic health warnings, a total ban on tobacco advertising, and increased tobacco prices and taxes, among others. However, one of its most powerful and distinctive features is Article 5.3, which commits the treaty and its signatory states to protect health policies from interference by the tobacco industry.
The FCTC has been instrumental in helping nations defend themselves against legal challenges posed by the tobacco industry. A landmark example is the international arbitration case Philip Morris International v. Uruguay at the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). In this case, Uruguay’s victory reinforced the FCTC’s importance in safeguarding national sovereignty and public health.
The treaty has saved countless lives by reducing tobacco consumption and exposure to secondhand smoke. It is considered a cornerstone of non-communicable disease prevention and sustainable development efforts. It is one of the few treaties explicitly included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The FCTC has evolved into a global public health movement, serving as a potential model for addressing other complex health challenges. However, despite these achievements, its full impact has yet to be realized, and the global tobacco epidemic remains a significant challenge. Tobacco industry interference continues to be the main obstacle to its full implementation.
Now is the time to redouble our efforts—not only to implement the FCTC to its fullest extent but also to act on Article 2.1, which calls on signatory states to go beyond the treaty’s provisions.
Governments, civil society, and health professionals must intensify their efforts to ensure the full implementation of the FCTC. We all share the responsibility to make this a reality.
NextGenU.org and the WHO-FCTC Knowledge Hub of the Ministry of Health of Uruguay have joined forces to create the Nicotine Addiction and Tobacco Use Initiative (NATTI). This initiative aims to improve tobacco cessation and treatment interventions by establishing a “network of networks” among health professional associations and the institutions that train them, facilitating enhanced education and training for healthcare professionals.
We urge every organization and individual to strengthen their commitment to supporting the FCTC and advancing global tobacco control efforts.
