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UAE Urged to Adopt Proactive Approach to Curb Tobacco Use 

The policymakers and health authorities in the UAE should adopt a proactive approach in implementing a comprehensive anti-tobacco policy to curb the use of tobacco products, according to a leading international expert in oral medicine.

Speaking at a symposium on 
‘Tobacco and Oral Cancer’ as part of the one-day International Medical Sciences Academy Conference organised by the RAK College of Dental Sciences in collaboration with International Medical Sciences Academy and the UAE Association for Dental Education and Research on Sunday, Prof. Saman Warnakulasuriya, Head of the Department of Oral Medicine, King’s College, London, said it is unfortunate that the UAE was among the countries with high prevalence of tobacco use.

“The steps taken so far by the country in controlling tobacco use, including banning smoking in public places, are welcome and in the right direction. But the country needs to have a comprehensive anti-tobacco strategy which should include provision to ban advertisements of tobacco products and increase taxation on tobacco products,” he said while presenting a paper on the ‘Global Tobacco Burden’.

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