8/12/2019 SCOPH Statement on Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products

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STATEMENT ON GRAPHIC HEALTH WARNINGS FOR TOBACCOPRODUCTSAs medical students, we encounter literally hundreds and thousands of patientswho suffer the ill-effects of smoking. Four days ago, when the legislation on the

inclusion of graphic pictures on cigarette packs was approved, we could notbe any happier for this is a milestone in our advocacy towards uplifting the

health of our fellow Filipinos.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of mortality in the world today,responsible for more than five million deaths each yearone in ten adultsworldwide.

WHOs package of MPOWER strategies to reduce tobacco consumption and

are detailed in Article 12 of the international tobacco control treaty known asthe WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), compelling the

Philippine government as signatory to implement the same measuresnationwide.

Size and location makes a difference. Health warnings and messages ontobacco product packaging and labeling should be about 50% of the principal

display areas. Graphic Health Warnings (GHW), particularly pictorial healthwarnings, has the most impact on smokers and nonsmokers based on the best

available science and real world experience. GHWs work better than text onlylabels among people with both high and low health literacy.

GHWs inform smokers about the health hazards of smoking, encouragesmokers to quit, and prevent nonsmokers from starting to smoke. Warning

labels on tobacco products are an ideal way of communicating with smokers.Since the intervention is delivered at the time of smoking, nearly all smokers

are exposed to warning labels and pack-a-day smokers could be exposed tothe warnings more than 7,000 times per year. Given the reach and frequency

of exposure, warning labels have the potential to have a significant impact on

8/12/2019 SCOPH Statement on Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products

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