The World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013 was launched in Panama City on 10 July. Panama was selected as the venue for this high level, global event in recognition of the country’s leadership in tobacco control.

The report shows the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving measure to limit tobacco use has more than doubled in the last five years. Three billion people are now covered by national anti-tobacco campaigns. Other highlights include:

• The number of people covered by tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans, the focus of this year’s report, increased by almost 400 million people, the majority of whom reside in low and middle-income countries.
• 24 countries with 694 million people have introduced complete TAPS bans. However, 67 countries currently do not ban any TAPS activities, or have a ban that excludes advertising in national broadcast and print media.
•  Effective health warning labels on tobacco packaging continue to be established by more countries. In the past five years, a total of 20 countries with 657 million people put strong warning label requirements in place.
• More than half a billion people in nine countries have gained access to appropriate cessation services in the past five years. However, there has been little progress since 2010, as only four additional countries with a combined population of 85 million were newly provided access to cost-covered services including a toll-free national quit line.
• Creation of smoke-free public places and workplaces continues to be the most commonly established measure at the highest level of achievement. 32 countries have passed complete smoking bans covering all work places, public places and public transportation means between 2007 and 2012, protecting nearly 900 million additional people.
• Nearly 3.8 billion people (54% of the world’s population) live in a country that has aired at least one national anti-tobacco mass media campaign on TV and/or radio for a duration of at least three weeks in the past two years.

The report is the fourth in a series by WHO on MPOWER measures – the six evidence-based tobacco control measures that are the most effective in reducing tobacco use. (Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use, Warn people about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and Raise taxes on tobacco

Read more and download the report here.

Click here for additional reporting from the World Lung Foundation.