Law on tobacco control in Kosovo, its ch

ICPHSP2017

“Law on tobacco control in Kosovo, its challenges and implementation.” Click here to download Pdf file.

Authors:

Mybera Mustafa, Faik Hoti

Affiliations:

Public Health School, University of Medicine, Tirana, Doctoral School.

Abstract:

Aiming protection of public health from devastating consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and given the fact that according to the data obtained from Kosovo Custom Service, within a year are spent 185 million Euros on cigarettes. Ministry of Health drafted the Law on Tobacco Control, supported by international partners. The law prescribing measures to prevention or restriction of the use of tobacco products was approved by the Assembly, on April 4, 2014. Following the promulgation by the President of the State, the Law entered into force on 22 May 2013. The law was in a full compliance with the Framework Convention of the World Health Organization on Tobacco Control, and was welcomed extremely well by the citizens of Kosovo and during the first year of its implementation was respected relatively well, while was highlighted as an achievement in the field of public health in the Progress Report of the European Commission for Kosovo, 2013. Over time, the implementation of the law stagnated compared to expected results. Challenges and difficulties were numerous; however the main one was and remains insufficient political support. In this study, are conducted two researches in a generalized form, in the public and private sector on the implementation of the law against smoking in some larger municipalities in Kosovo. There are presented study results, disclosed some challenges and provided corresponding recommendations in terms of achieving results.

Key words:

Law, tobacco, implementation, challenges.