The rate of regular cigarette use among adult men in Việt Nam has decreased by an annual average of 0.5 per cent. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Tobacco is a burden on society with a total cost of medical examination, treatment, illness and fatality of VNĐ108 trillion (US$4.24 billion) a year, health minister Đào Hồng Lan told a meeting in Hà Nội on Sunday.

The event was held to commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2024 (May 31) and the National No-Tobacco Week from May 25-31.

Lan cited statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) as saying that each year more than 8 million deaths are reported to be related to tobacco use globally.

The minister said that a report summing up the 10-year implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control shows that the rate of regular cigarette use among adult men decreased by an annual average of 0.5 per cent, from 47.4 per cent in 2010 to 38.9 per cent in 2023

Health minister Đào Hồng Lan addressed the event on Sunday.

The smoking rate among adolescents has decreased, from 5.36 per cent in 2013 to 2.78 per cent in 2019 in the age group of 13-17, and that of second-hand smoke exposure has also reduced significantly in households and public places and at workplaces.

These are very encouraging results in the work of preventing and controlling the harmful effects of tobacco, she said

However, she added that these achievements are at risk due to the rapid increase in the rate of new tobacco use, mainly electronic and heated tobaccos.

Notably, in the age group of 13-15, the rate doubled from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 8 per cent in 2023, the minister emphasised.

On May 13, the Prime Minister issued an official dispatch directing relevant ministries, sectors and agencies to strengthen measures to promptly prevent e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products nationwide.

WHO Representative in Việt Nam Dr Angela Pratt said that banning electronic and heated cigarettes, and increasing tobacco taxes will help the country achieve the goals set out in the Việt Nam Health Plan, as well as its international commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals. — VNS