Introduction

According to Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Khaled Hanafi, Egypt’s annual sales of tobacco products amount to 135 billion pounds. Additionally, the average per capita consumption of cigarettes in Egypt reaches 6,000 cigarettes per year.

Discussion on Tobacco Report

During a dialogue organized by the Institute of National Planning, Hanafi presented the findings of the report titled “The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxes in Egypt.” The report is part of a collaborative project between the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Center for Social Policy and Development (SPDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Cigarette Consumption Comparison

Hanafi highlighted that Egypt’s average per capita cigarette consumption is significantly higher than the global average. While the global average is 1,150 cigarettes per year, Egyptians consume an average of 6,000 cigarettes annually. Furthermore, tobacco sales in Egypt amount to approximately £135 billion per year.

Recommendations for Tobacco Control

Hanafi emphasized the importance of focusing on protecting and reducing the number of new smokers. He also stressed the need to allocate tobacco taxes towards supporting the health system. The report recommends implementing better incentives, particularly in disadvantaged areas, to reduce the number of new smokers and increase smoking cessation rates.

Source

Source: RT