📈 Sri Lanka Explores Swedish Model to Tackle Tobacco Crisis

Regional health experts at the "Quit Like Sweden" roundtable in Colombo have urged Sri Lanka to adopt Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies to combat the country’s significant smoking burden. Sweden, with a smoking rate of just 5.4%, serves as the global benchmark for smoke-free status. • Economic & Health Impact: Tobacco use costs Sri Lanka approximately £ 400 million (approx. US$ 508 Mn) in annual healthcare expenses. The country records 12,000 tobacco-related deaths and 3,000 oral cancer cases annually. Current prevalence: 22% of adults use tobacco, with 17.7% of men identified as smokers. • The Strategy: The "Swedish Model" shifts focus from total prohibition to risk-proportionate regulation, making safer alternatives—such as nicotine pouches, vaping products, and heated tobacco—accessible and affordable for current smokers. • Key Recommendations for Sri Lanka: Policy Reform: Establish a multi-stakeholder working group to integrate THR into national health policy. Regulatory Shift: Implement taxation based on the relative harm of products. Public Health Gains: Adopting WHO-aligned harm reduction could save an estimated 85,000 lives by 2060. Social Priority: Redirecting funds from treating smoking-related diseases toward essential social sectors to boost national development.