The ET Consumer Freedom Conclave held on World No Tobacco Day 2022 saw an interactive thought leadership platform themed ‘Reframing societal view on harm reduction: A medical and scientific perspective’ with the objective of driving discussion and debate around consumer freedom and consumer choices & need for progressive regulations based on scientific methods of harm reduction rather than bans.
The multi-stakeholder discussions witnessed participation from renowned subject matter experts across policymakers, science & medicine, legal, think tanks and consumer organizations. The first panel deliberated ‘Enabling the shift to less harmful alternatives – Evidence-based policy recommendation’. The second panel was on ‘Empowering Community Engagement – Creating consumer-friendly regulatory framework’.
Experts deliberated on how the nation appears to be missing a critical tobacco control opportunity and how a scientific policy framework can help the country achieve its goal of eventually being tobacco-free.
David T. Sweanor J.D., Faculty of Law and Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, University of Ottawa, Canada, said, “Focus on R&D for technology enhancement in providing consumers safer alternatives is pivotal, as have many countries where access to low-risk alternatives have recorded a rapid decline in smoking.”
Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Professor of Hospital Management and Health Economics, Deputy Dean (Relation & Wealth Creation), Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre; Malaysia, said, “Policymakers should engage with scientific leaders enabling them to have discussions on the benefits of harm reduction, backed by scientific evidence.”
