Leveraging WHO FCTC Lessons to Tackle Commercial Determinants of Health
The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) are strategies used by industries to promote products that harm public health. Industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and processed foods influence our environments and choices, often leading to negative health outcomes. The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) provides a comprehensive guide for countering these influences.
The WHO FCTC: A Model for Public Health Governance
The WHO FCTC is a legally binding treaty with 182 parties covering 90% of the global population. It addresses governance, supply, and demand aspects of tobacco control. Its success in reducing tobacco use provides valuable lessons for tackling other CDoH.
- Governance: The WHO FCTC emphasizes intersectoral governance and transparency in policymaking. Article 5.3 protects policies from industry interference, ensuring that public health decisions are not swayed by commercial interests.
- Demand Reduction: The convention's demand reduction measures, such as taxation and marketing restrictions, have proven effective in decreasing tobacco use. Similar strategies can be applied to other harmful products.
Applying WHO FCTC Lessons to Other Industries
The tactics used by industries like alcohol and processed foods often mirror those of the tobacco industry. To counter these influences, practitioners can adopt WHO FCTC-inspired strategies:
- Intersectoral Governance: Establish national coordination mechanisms that involve multiple sectors in public health policymaking.
- Transparency: Ensure all interactions with industry actors are transparent and conducted under strict guidelines to prevent undue influence.
- Demand Reduction Measures: Implement taxes and marketing restrictions on harmful products to reduce their consumption.
- Civil Society Engagement: Encourage civil society organizations to monitor industry practices and advocate for stronger public health policies.
The Path Forward
The WHO FCTC demonstrates that even without legally binding treaties for every harmful commodity, significant progress can be made through national measures that ensure intersectoral governance and protect public policy from industry interference. By applying these lessons to other CDoH, practitioners can help reduce the supply and demand for unhealthy commodities.
The WHO FCTC’s lessons for addressing the commercial determinants of health.
