The Minister of Health, Mónica García, announced that it will be next Friday, 5 April, when the Ministry and the Autonomous Communities will meet in a new Interterritorial Council, and one of the most important topics on the agenda will be the new Anti-Tobacco Plan, which the communities have until today to present their objections or proposals.
The Anti-Tobacco Plan presents “forcefulness, evidence and protection of the scientific society” and will be presented to the CISNS on April 5. This was explained by the Minister of Health, Mónica García, after her meeting with scientific societies and public health entities to evaluate and share the proposal for the new Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking 2024-2027.
Likewise, the minister stressed that these weeks “are going to be key” to implement the plan, since “we cannot allow 140 people to die a day due to tobacco.”
García has also regretted that another 460 people start smoking every day, there are 50,000 deaths a year and up to 16 types of cancer are directly caused by tobacco consumption. Likewise, the minister recalled that in 2020 there were 450 non-smoking deaths who had been exposed to smoke. For all these reasons, “we deserve forcefulness and to move forward with this plan.”
On the other hand, the minister stressed that “15 years ago we were pioneers and avant-garde, and we want to be that way again so that fewer people start smoking, and more people quit.” She has also stressed that we must have “more smoke-free spaces” and precisely prevent “second generation smoke.”
During these times, in addition, “we have other challenges, such as emerging consumption,” since more and more 13-year-old children are starting to vape. “Far from what they are telling us about these devices controlling the harm of tobacco, it is really a gateway for the youngest to start that habit and that addiction.”
Likewise, “there is broad consensus in society and scientific societies, as well as in the Autonomous Communities.” In fact, many territories already have their own smoke-free plans. Therefore, “protected by consensus, we are going to move forward with this plan.”
Regarding this consensus with the communities, “we are going to wait for feedback until March 27, so that they can send us their proposals.” After that, an Interterritorial Council will be convened on April 5, to which this plan will be brought. “If we have to choose between smoke and life, in this ministry we are going to take the side of life,” she stressed.
Likewise, the general director of Public Health and Health Equity, Pedro Gullón, who accompanied the minister, explained that the plan will require new legislative measures and new actions focused on all areas. “We will have to approve each legislative measure as the next few years go by; in one day not all the spaces will be regulated, and all the laws will be changed.”
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