Adopted at the 170th WMA Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, 15 May 2005

The World Medical Association

Welcomes the recognition of the essential role of health professionals in tobacco control as the focus of World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2005;

Recognises the importance of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in furthering the campaign to protect people from exposure and addiction to tobacco;

Encourages national medical associations to work assiduously and energetically to get their governments to ratify and implement the FCTC;

Urges governments to introduce regulation and other measures as set out in the FCTC. Governments should also introduce a ban on smoking in enclosed public places and work places as an urgent public health intervention;

Recognises the vital role of health professionals in public health education and in support for smoking cessation;

Commits, with the other members of the World Health Professions Alliance, to mobilise health professionals in the fight to implement the FCTC and to reduce the human cost of tobacco.