Study on smoking alternatives promotes e-cigarettes: Progga

With funds from multinational tobacco companies, a vested quarter is promoting e-cigarettes and vaping products in the name of research on smoking alternatives in the country, alleged anti-tobacco organisation Progga on Wednesday.

The Association for Community Empowerment (ACE) Bangladesh, the UK-based Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR) and Enam Medical College are collaborating on the study focusing on tobacco harm reduction among Bangladeshi diabetic patients, said a media release of Progga.

The study is being financed by the Foundation for Smoke-free World (FSFW), a front organisation sponsored by Philip Morris International (PMI).

“The timing of this campaign is particularly concerning, as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is currently working on amending the tobacco control law, which could potentially ban e-cigarettes and vaping altogether,” reads the release.

With support from the tobacco industry, this well-funded campaign raises questions about its intentions and motives.

The FSFW, established in 2017 with funds from PMI, has drawn significant criticism from public health and anti-tobacco activists. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed alarm over any involvement or collaboration with the foundation, citing a serious conflict of interest, it added.