Global Tobacco Control Report (GTCR)

The objective of the GTCR is to monitor a core of essential tobacco control policy initiatives, and to report on their implementation on an annual basis, for all WHO Member States.  The GTCR provides a highly structured and focused framework through which progress towards the implementation of defined, concrete tobaccocontrol measures at country level will be compared in a standardized manner across countries.

Essential surveillance indicators are measured through a short questionnaire that is completed annually by country-level focal points.  Answers to this annual questionnaire are analyzed in the GTCR, which will show gaps between optimal and existing policies and analyses to develop a strong advocacy message and create momentum for tobacco control.  Existing data sources are used to provide additional background information.

The recently published “WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008” entitled MPOWER documents the extent of the devastating tobacco epidemic globally.  The publication contains in-depth information about the current tobacco situation, prevention and control efforts and introduces a package of the six most important and effective tobacco control policies: monitor the epidemic and prevention policies,  protect people from second-hand smoke, offer help to quit, warn about the dangers of tobacco, enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and raise taxes and prices. Read more …