Over 100 health organisations urge WHO to reject Philip Morris International-led body's appeal to collaborate on tobacco control

Public health experts from over 100 organisations said giving any consideration to an organisation that is entirely funded by the tobacco industry would fundamentally undermine the significant health and policy gains made to date New Delhi: Public health experts from over 100 organisations around the world on Tuesday urged the World Health Organisation Executive Board to reject a Philip Morris International-funded foundation’s appeal to the global health body to collaborate on tobacco control policies. Giving any consideration to an organisation that is entirely funded by the tobacco industry would fundamentally undermine the significant health and policy gains made to date on the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and prevention of non-communicable diseases through the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. “We therefore call on you to reject this approach, in the strongest terms, and reinforce WHO’s 2017 notice to governments and the public health community to reject any affiliation with FSFW because of the ’number of clear conflicts of interest involved with a tobacco company funding a purported health foundation, particularly if it promotes sale of tobacco and other products found in that company’s brand portfolio.” When public health experts were alerted of the approach made in A key concern is that the FSFW helps operationalise PMI’s corporate affairs strategy to further the company’s business interests. While PMI and its grantee claim a commitment to reducing harm, reports show that PMI’s products, including heated tobacco products, continue to be heavily marketed in ways that attract children and undermine public health policy.