Chan’s aim is to put tobacco industry out of business

The World Health Organization’s chief, Dr. Margaret Chan, has urged global action to drive tobacco companies out of business, according to a Medical Xpress story.

Speaking at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) yesterday, Chan welcomed the steps taken by several companies, led by Australia, to introduce standardized tobacco packaging.

And she called for similar action to be taken by other nations.

Chan apparently told reporters that tobacco companies “use all sorts of tactics including funding political parties, individual politicians to work for them…”

“There is nothing they would not exploit to undermine the governments’ resolve and determination to protect their own people,” she was quoted as saying.

“It’s going to be a tough fight… [but] we should not give up until we make sure that the tobacco industry goes out of business.”

The WCTOH, which is being stage in Abu Dhabi, started on Tuesday and is due to end on Saturday.

This, the 16th WCTOH, has been billed as a scientific conference for the presentation of the latest developments in tobacco control and global efforts to reduce tobacco use in all its forms.