Fiji loses $FJD319 million each year due to tobacco-related costs, which accounts for 2.7% of its GDP—an amount reportedly greater than the revenue from cigarette taxes.
The health toll is equally significant, with 1,200 Fijians dying each year from tobacco-related illnesses, making up nearly 17% of all fatalities in the country. A further 27% of tobacco-related deaths are linked to exposure to second-hand smoke, affecting non-smokers as well as smokers.
Sharing these statistics during the stakeholders meeting on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Suva today, Permanent Secretary for Health Dr Jemesa Tudravu also pointed out that 71% of those who die from tobacco-related diseases are under the age of 70.
Fiji has taken significant steps in the fight against tobacco, becoming the first Pacific island nation to ratify the Protocol in 2019. The country has passed comprehensive legislation, including the Tobacco Control Act and Customs Act, to penalise offenders and curb the illegal trade in tobacco products. However, these efforts have been hampered by the growing illicit tobacco trade in the Pacific. To this end, the country’s Ministry of Health has turned to international partners for support.
This week, an international team, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Secretariat has been working alongside the Fiji Government to assess the nation’s needs in implementing the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. This protocol, the first adopted under the WHO FCTC, aims to curb illicit tobacco trade through international cooperation and effective national policies.
“The impact of tobacco-related diseases is devastating, affecting families, communities, and our entire nation,” Dr Tudravu told stakeholders. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative under the FCTC 2030 project, which includes the 2024 Investment Case for Tobacco Control*, developed in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Dr Mark Jacobs, WHO Representative to the South Pacific, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Fiji in its efforts, stating: “Tobacco use is a preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.”
