OREANDA-NEWS. December 10, 2008. A two days’ National Conference into reduction of smoking effect on health of the population is underway in Kyiv.

The conference is being held according to the Concept of the State Target Social Program of reduction of smoking effect on the health of population for 2008-2012 approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. It envisaged elaborating, approving and holding of a wide circle of measures of fight against tobacco smoking on the national and local levels.

At the press conference dedicated to analysis of the elaborated program the participants heard speeches of Minister of Health Protection Vasyl Knyazevych, head of National Council on Health Protection Mykola Polishchuk, head of WHO Bureau in Ukraine Ihor Pokanevych, representative of WHO Anna Maria Perucich.

“The issues of protecting of public health are of top importance and priority in the world and in our state also. The scientists have found connection between active and passive smoking and over 100 various diseases,” Vasyl Knyazevych stressed.

The significant aspect on which the Minister accentuated has become an economic factor of the problem. Principal balance of foreign trade with tobacco and tobacco goods in Ukraine is negative which has led to the fact that during recent twelve years (1997-2008) Ukraine has lost over USD 2 billion. It implies that Ukrainian smokers in fact have invested USD 2 billion into the economy of other states.

To implement the State Target Program of reduction of smoking effect on the health of population of Ukraine for 2008-2012 it is needed almost USD 36 mn which is being implemented at the account of the state budget and the local ones. Together with that only owing to the envisaged by the Program increase of rate of excise for tobacco goods, the budget has to receive additional UAH 27 billion for 4 years.