Health bodies in Thailand push for new tobacco laws

Six key public health organizations and allies in Thailand on Sept. 17 vowed to support the new draft of the Tobacco Control Act and called on the government and the National Legislative Assembly to push this law through in an effort to protect the country’s youth.

At an academic conference held in Chiang Mai province, the group also said that, as of Sept. 15, their campaign, which is available at www.vote4tobaccolaw.com, had received more than 12 million signatures. The groups behind the campaign—which include the Thai Public Health Club, the Mohanamai Network Foundation and the Health Professional Association of Thailand—expect to reach their target of 15 million signatures when the law deliberation is completed in six months.