Tobacco Policy in Moldova and the Role of Civil Society

Background

 

According to the data of the National Centre for Preventive Medicine smoking is rather widespread in Moldova: 46.2% of adult men and 6.2% of women, 11.6% of boys and 3.2% of girls of school age smoke. Cardio vascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the country. Thus, 212709 of patients with cardio vascular diseases were registered in 2000 and 22732 deceased in the result of these diseases.

The epidemic of tobacco smoking began in the country 5-7 years ago. Approximately 3 years ago Moldovan market was invaded by aggressive tobacco advertising, which slightly decreased in 2001 when parliament adopted the law on tobacco providing certain limitations on tobacco advertising. BAT attempted to organize the first educational campaign targeted at youth in 2001. Hot debates in parliament and press about tobacco industry became frequent recently, which is connected with the upcoming privatization of the largest tobacco producer of Moldova "Tutun CTC". Monitoring of press publications about tobacco which has been conducted by the author of the project during the last 2 years clearly demonstrates the existence of tobacco lobby, which in most cases has been successful in preventing tobacco control policy initiatives.

Government and parliament occupy a "two faced" position regarding tobacco control issue. On the one hand, tobacco industry is one of the few industries still functioning in the country, and all efforts should be done to support it. On the other hand, Moldova is striving for becoming a full member of the European Union, which imposes certain limitations and requirements to introduce tobacco control measures and tobacco import control. Hence, the law on tobacco is also "two faced". For instance, the law prohibits street, radio and TV tobacco advertising, but advertisements in press are legal. Moldova takes part in the discussions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Although the country occupies a "waiting" position preferring not to express any opinion, by the time of the treaty signing Moldova will have to make a choice.

Research of the tobacco policy in Moldova will cover the following directions:

• study of public documents of the parliament (verbatim records of parliamentary sessions and special committees meetings, history of the revision of legislative initiatives, adopted tobacco related laws),

• monitoring of publications about tobacco in the 18 leading newspapers of the country;

• establishing of contacts with NGOs advocating tobacco free society or able to advocate,

• establishing of contacts with medical institutions, whose direct duty is health advocacy among population including antismoking advocacy;

• survey conducted among representatives of the above mentioned institutions and journalists writing on economy and health to learn their opinion about tobacco control policy and governmental activity in this area.

The research should result in the elaboration of recommendations on tobacco control policy advocacy targeted at different public groups, organizations and individuals, who believe it important to stop tobacco epidemics in the country.
 

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