Many violations of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms in Vinh City

On the afternoon of May 20, Nghe An Department of Health organized a workshop to share work on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in Vinh city.

Attending the workshop were representatives of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health); departments, branches and sectors in the province; Vinh City People's Committee; Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control; hospitals in Vinh City; Vinh City Medical Center and Center for Health and Population Initiatives.

At the workshop, representatives of the Center for Health and Population Initiatives announced the results of a survey on compliance with the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and the smoke-free environment policy in Vinh city.

With the consent of all levels and sectors, the Center for Health and Population Initiatives conducted a survey from December 2023 to May 2024 at 7 locations, including: medical facilities, educational facilities, state agencies, food establishments, accommodation establishments, public areas and public transport points.

The survey results show that: All 7 locations mentioned above in Vinh city observed violations of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention regarding regulations on smoke-free environments. The fewest violations were in educational establishments (30.5%) and public service establishments (34.5%). The most violations were in public transport locations (80%), food establishments (62.4%) and accommodation establishments (60.2%). The level of violations was uneven among subgroups of each main type of location, in which hospitals, medical centers, universities, colleges, vocational schools, people's committees, restaurants, and bus stations had a fairly high level of violations, over 70%.

The situation of no smoking signs is still common in many restaurants (2%), public service points (19%), accommodation facilities (21.5%), and educational facilities (22.9%). There is a phenomenon of selling cigarettes in violation of the law occurring in many public transportation points, restaurants, some public service points, and outside medical and educational facilities... Only 1 public transportation facility has a designated smoking area.

The Center for Health and Population Initiatives recommends: It is necessary to strengthen compliance with the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Smoke-Free Environment Policy at locations and types of establishments in general in Vinh City; promote dissemination of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention at establishments, according to the vertical industry network. Enhance the role of heads of establishments, issue regulations, and supervise the implementation of regulations to meet legal requirements.

Increase the installation of no-smoking signs at restaurants, accommodation establishments, public places, and educational establishments. Increase inter-sectoral inspections of restaurants, accommodation establishments, and public services. Increase the role of the government and police forces in controlling tobacco trading within a radius of less than 100 meters around educational establishments and medical establishments. Increase inspections and supervision in each sector.

Within the framework of the workshop, the delegates participated in contributing ideas to improve compliance with the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention in the next 2 years, towards building a smoke-free Vinh city; solutions to effectively implement the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention; Plan No. 861/KH-UBND dated November 14, 2023 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province to deploy the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control to 2023 in Nghe An province; Official Dispatch No. 47/CD-TTg dated May 13, 2024 of the Prime Minister to strengthen the management of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products./.