Under the theme "Science, ethics and human rights", more than thirty experts/scientists from the public health sector, tobacco industry, tobacco control sector, and consumers, discussed various topics including the relevance of science versus ideology, the importance of a patient centered approach, the potential of vaping in low-income countries, and prohibited scientific alternatives to conventional tobacco
For years now, numerous scientific studies have revealed that alternatives to traditional tobacco do less harm than conventional cigarettes.
Despite those studies, a number of policy makers at national and international level, notably World Health Organization, promote very strict regulatory measures that don't take evidence of risk reduction potential in non-combustible products.
Mark Tyndall, professor and infectious disease specialist from Canada, is, as well, very firm on the topic of scientifically proven alternatives to traditional tobacco: "I've always considered that smoking cigarettes was a form of harm reduction for people who use drugs.
Clarisse Virgino, a vape consumer from the Philippines, is pushing for the fair regulation of electronic cigarettes in her country: "It is the consumer, in the end, that will suffer if prohibitionist policies are put in place as these will deprive people who smoke to do the switch.
Policy makers argue that there is irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry and public health.
