Policies for tobacco-free regions : a report from the Regions for Health Network

Abstract

Tobacco control requires multisectoral approaches at different levels. The second Action Plan for a Tobacco-free Europe outlines the policies to be implemented and the many opportunities for practical action in six areas: building alliances for a tobacco-free Europe; multisectoral tobacco policies; promoting smoke-free environments; promoting non-smoking generations; helping smokers to quit and sharpening leadership and implementation capacity at all levels. Regions are acquiring an increasingly important role in Europe. The regional level, where there is a potentially good understanding of local health problems, proximity to population needs and a capacity to obtain and allocate resources, is of particular importance in health promotion. WHO aims at providing countries in the European Region with instruments to help them in the development of tobacco prevention policies. The Action Plan for Europe provides a useful guide for national plans. At the local level, the Healthy Cities MCAP on tobacco provides useful information for cities willing to set up similar measures. Through the Regions for Health Network, it is hoped that a similar initiative can be implemented for tobacco-free regions, to develop tobacco prevention policies at the regional level in Europe. The third Action Plan for a Tobacco-Free Europe, 1997-2001, will be presented to the Regional Committee for Europe in Istanbul, 15-19 September 1997. Following the Regional Committee meeting, an Action Plan for Tobacco-Free regions will be prepared