MANILA, 28 May 2014

Every year, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, recognizes people and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the policies and measures contained in the WHO FCTC and its guidelines. There are six awardees from each region and globally there are two recipients of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award. This year, one of these special recognition awards has been granted to SEATCA.

“This award recognizes the valuable contribution of SEATCA as a regional ally especially in the area of tobacco taxation. SEATCA is a key catalyst and leader in tobacco tax reform in the ASEAN community bringing together various stakeholders and working closely with ministries of health and finance” says WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo. “Increasing the retail price of tobacco products through higher taxes is the single most effective way to reduce the demand for tobacco.”

Read the full article http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2014/20140528/en/#.U4XD5QdJgkQ.facebook