When Philip Morris profits from the COVID 19 pandemic

Philip Morris International has made a rather inappropriate advertisement during the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Indeed, Papastratos, a company owned 40% by the cigarette manufacturer, has donated 50 ventilators for use in Greek hospitals, including 19 for intensive care units at the Athens Hospital, earning the thanks of the Greek Minister of Health. As Deborah Arnott, CEO of Action on Smoking and Health, points out, Papastratos' turnover is €1.3 billion per year, so donating a few dozen ventilators is a drop in the ocean. Beyond this remark, this promotional operation is questionable on several levels. First, because smoking considerably increases the risk of developing serious forms of Coronavirus. Second, because Philip Morris is an extremely unwelcome company to intervene on health issues, especially when it comes to respiratory diseases. Let us recall that 43.71% of Greeks aged 15 and over are smokers, leading to the death of more than 22,000 people each year in the country.[1]. Finally, the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control formally prohibits any form of direct or indirect advertising by the tobacco industry. Indeed, any donation made by the manufacturer is never innocent. The manufacturer expects, when the time comes, a "return of the favor". This approach aimed at restoring its image at little cost is not limited to Greece. The cigarette manufacturer has announced its intention to protect tobacco sellers in France by giving them adhesive tape for floor markings, and by equipping them on the counter with plexiglass protection. This announcement was picked up by a well-known newspaper. Certainly, the cigarette manufacturer knows how to take advantage of the situation with communication allowing it to strengthen the sale of its products by equipping the sellers but naturally keeping quiet about the major risks for smokers who are more exposed to Covid 19. ©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Tobacco Atlas, Greece https://tobaccoatlas.org/country/greece/ ©National Committee Against Smoking |