THE first step for a successful implementation of tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies in Malaysia requires comprehensive regulation of the entire ecosystem where regulations must be based on sound evidence, patient-centered and allows adult smokers access to THR information and treatment options.
Such is the outcome of the first THR conference organised by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) which was attended by more than 150 participants from the medical fraternity.
“The conference called for general practitioners (GPs) to be specially trained and to offer smoking cessation counselling and treatment as part and parcel of their daily practice,” FPMPAM’s president Dr Steven Chow pointed out.
“At the end of the day, population health measures need to be translated to individual patients seeking help from their doctors. Engagement with all stakeholders and consumers is important to ensure regulations will work for the individual wanting to quit smoking.”
In total, 13 speakers including three international THR experts, presented studies, opinions and recommendations on THR during the event.
“The conference highlighted the differing views but there was agreement that the harm from smoking is a longstanding universal issue and needs to be effectively addressed,” noted Dr Chow. “More than 1.1 billion people smoke worldwide, resulting in cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and obstructive lung diseases.”
Globally, this quiet pandemic claims the lives of approximately five million people annually, a figure that will rise to 10 million by 2030 with the burden of death increasingly being felt by many developing and under-developed countries.
“The medical community has a vital role to play in fighting tobacco addiction. Collectively, we agree that THR has the potential to contribute toward smoking cessation which remains the primary goal of our community.”
Aimed at members of the scientific, public health and medical community, the virtual conference facilitated the exchange of ideas, knowledge, research findings and recommendations for the adoption of THR in Malaysia.
Local speakers included Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Faculty of Medicine’s Deputy Dean (Relation & Wealth Creation) Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh; Monash University, Malaysia’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ Deputy Head (Education) and consultant psychiatrist Dr Sivakumar Thurairajasingam and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur’s consultant respiratory physician Dr Lily Diana Zainudin.
International speakers at the conference comprised founding member of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and Deputy Editor of the Nicotine & Tobacco Research Karl Fagerstrom; University of Patras’ (Greece) Department of Public and Community
Health’s external research associate Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos; and former director of action on smoking and health (UK) and tobacco harm reduction expert Clive Bates. – Nov 26, 2021
