Health ministers from 11 South East Asian countries signed a declaration calling on their governments and international agencies to step up measures to control tobacco use in the region, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

“Tobacco use in South East Asia is alarmingly high, triggering major health and economic consequences. Tougher actions are needed for tobacco control and prevention,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, director of the WHO South East Asia Region. “Countries must equally tax all tobacco products, ban tobacco advertisements, enforce pictorial warning on cigarette packs and implement ban on public smoking.”
The Dili Declaration was agreed at a regional WHO meeting underway in East Timor, WHO said.