Challenges of tobacco control in low/middle income countries

Five million people die annually in the world as a result of tobacco use. One in four of the deaths occur in the Western Pacific Region. Mongolia, one of the 37 member states in the region, is experiencing increased tobacco consumption. In Mongolia, an estimated 67.8% of all men and 25.5 % of women smoke cigarettes. Smoking has become a maj or public health problem in Mongolia. Tobacco-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in the country. The objective of this project is to identify barriers to the effective implementation and enforcement of the Tobacco Control Law. The project was carried out by examining national documents on tobacco and conducting interviews with government officials and representatives of NGOs. Specific recommendations were put forward with regard to issues such as availability, advertising, price and taxation, smoke-free environments, cessation support, and human and financial resources.