Selasa 22 Dec 2015 14:41 WIB

WHO says Indonesia not yet free from influence of tobacco companies

Red: Julkifli Marbun
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Foto: Yogi Ardhi/Republika
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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia is still susceptible to the influence of international tobacco companies as it is yet to accede to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), according to a WHO official.

"Indonesia is a large populous nation, which has not yet acceded to the FCTC. Therefore, international tobacco companies are targeting Indonesia," Dina Kania, a WHO national official for the tobacco-free initiative, noted here on Tuesday.

Dina affirmed that international tobacco companies were exerting influence on Indonesian decision makers with regard to tobacco policies. They, for instance, were attempting to exert influence on the drafting of the tobacco bill in the country's 2016 National Legislation Priority Program in the House of Representatives (DPR).

She stated that international tobacco companies intervened in the policy making process as Indonesia viewed them as one of the stakeholders whose opinions should be taken into account before arriving at a decision.