BIA STANDPOINT ON DRAFT DECREE OF THE CM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NCCI OF THE WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL

BIA sent a letter to the Minister of health on the Draft Decree of the Council of Ministers on the Establishment of a National Council for Coordinating the Implementation in the Republic of Bulgaria of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization expressing the following statements:

• The Republic of Bulgaria ratified the Convention 16 years ago - in 2005. Therefore, it is puzzling that the establishment of a National Council for its implementation is still under way.
• In fulfillment of our international commitments, a number of amendments have been made to our national legislation, in line with the objectives, guiding principles and general obligations of the states set out in the Convention.
• Several National Smoking Cessation Programs have been adopted: 2002 - 2005, 2007 - 2010, 2011 - 2015.
• The main problem for achieving a greater impact on smoking cessation, identified in the National Programs, is the lack of sufficient financial resources, not the lack of coordination.
• The draft Decree envisages the inclusion in the National Council of "non-governmental organizations" working to reduce smoking, without any procedure, as the only criterion for their selection is to have at least 5 years of experience in implementing activities to reduce of smoking.
• Measures to limit smoking affect the interests of a wide range of people, including and outside the tobacco industry. The discussion of new measures should be based on a broad discussion

The above makes BIA express serious reservations about the need to create a new administrative structure, covering a significant range of ministries, represented at a high political level.

We propose that the draft Decree be withdrawn, as the very fact of the existence of Smoking Cessation Councils has not led to a significant change in the target results, and the main obstacle to the implementation of more effective health policies in this area is the lack of sufficient financing.