Smoking cessation, the great forgotten of the FCTC?

The WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2019 shows that since 2007, only 13 new countries have started offering smoking cessation programmes. In total, only 23 countries offer help to those who want to quit smoking in 2019.

Despite these mixed results, the report points out that in terms of population coverage, progress is promising. These 23 countries bring together 2.4 billion people who thus have access to cessation services corresponding to best practices. These significant figures are notably linked to the adhesion of Brazil and India to these programs.

While only 23 countries offer cessation support services that meet the criteria for implementing best practices, it should also be remembered that 171 other countries provide smokers with access to cessation support services. Among them, 116 countries cover all or part of the costs of these services. In France, since 1^er November 2016, Health Insurance covers treatments with nicotine substitutes prescribed by a healthcare professional (link to article on opening the prescription).

Article 14 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control calls for effective measures to promote smoking cessation. This dimension of the fight against the tobacco epidemic appears to have been under-mobilized so far. However, global targets will only be achieved if smokers quit. Studies have shown that nicotine replacement therapy increases the chances of quitting smoking by 50 to 70%.