The National Committee for Tobacco Control held a meeting to report on the implementation of tobacco control work in the past period, chaired by Ms. Baikham Khattiya, Minister of Health, with the participation of relevant parties on April 3, 2026.
Ms. Baikham Khatthiya said: “The tobacco industry remains the biggest obstacle to public health and development, causing many non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc. Every year, more than 6,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases in our country, causing an impact and economic loss of about 3.6 billion kip.
Currently, it has been observed that new types of tobacco products have appeared and are being sold in the Lao PDR. The Ministry of Health is very concerned about this issue because the marketing is aimed at young, vulnerable and curious groups.
Laws and regulations alone are not enough to promote health, protect health and save people’s lives; we must work together to implement and strictly enforce such laws and regulations from the central to local levels and without interference from tobacco companies in the development and enforcement of laws and regulations on tobacco control. The participation of relevant sectors in the development and “Enforcing policies, legislation and decrees is an urgent and central need for tobacco control.”