Harm reduction conference compromised in Madrid

Following the interventions of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, and the withdrawal of the King Juan Carlos University, the Tobacco Harm Reduction Summit, which presents itself as a scientific conference on "the impact that risk reduction strategies can have in the field of smoking", which was to be held in Madrid on February 23, 2023, seems compromised.[1].

The main organizers of this conference are the España Salud Foundation, which brings together health professionals and promotes telemedicine, and the Platform for the Reduction of Risks Related to Tobacco, an organization that presents itself as composed of "public health experts" whose discourse is very close to that of the tobacco and vaping industry. Among the speakers announced for this conference, we can note the presence of Konstantinos Farsalinos, David Sweanor, Karl Fagerström and Clive Bates, all accustomed to taking positions in favor of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco and other "alternatives" to smoked tobacco proposed by the tobacco industry.

An alert issued by the WHO

The King Juan Carlos University had provided its patronage and was to host this conference in its premises, but this position has since changed. Alerted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Spanish Minister of Health wrote to the Rector of the University to inform him that the orientations of this conference were “far from scientific conventions and public health policies” and suggesting that he withdraw from it[2]. As a result, Javier Ramos, the university's rector, announced that he would not inaugurate the conference as planned and requested that the university logo be removed from all documentation related to the event. He also indicated that he was studying the possibility of the conference not being held on the university premises.

A few days earlier, Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health, had challenged the España Salud Foundation, which had presented her as one of its founding members and whose website displayed the logos of the WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Neira assured that she had never been a founding member or a member of the scientific council of this foundation, as her position prohibited her from doing so. She also demanded the removal of the WHO and IARC logos from the foundation's website and declared herself "irritated by the lightness with which the names and logos were used."

Equivocal withdrawal of the España Salud foundation

The España Salud Foundation later announced that it too was refusing to participate in the organization of this conference, while indicating that it would continue to support it. One of its members, Miguel de la Guardia, is due to present a speech and take part in a round table suggesting a "scientific denial" by the authorities regarding products that are supposed to reduce risks, and inviting them to revise the legislation. A speech that cannot be completely neutral, a year after Spain adopted a plan to combat smoking putting nicotine products on the same footing as tobacco products.

With two of its main pillars having withdrawn, the fate of the THR Summit therefore appears uncertain, with its continuation being a question mark in the event of a change of location.

Coincidence – fortuitous or not – of the agendas, Madrid will then host, from April 26 to 28, 2023, the 9^th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH), which will bring together European stakeholders in the fight against smoking in order to prepare a Tobacco-Free Generation in Europe by 2040[3].

Keywords: Madrid, España Salud, THR Summit, ECToH.

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[1] Tobacco Harm Reduction Summit Spain 2023, accessed February 14, 2023.

[2] Guell O, Health and the WHO put in check a great congress favorable to electronic cigarettes scheduled in Madrid (translation of Sanity and WHO are celebrating a great congress favorable to electronic cigars ahead of time in Madrid), El País, published on February 12, 2023, consulted on February 14, 2023.

[3] European Conference on Tobacco or Health, accessed February 14, 2023.