Speaking at a conference organized by the Health Ministry and World Health Organization (WHO), Professor Dağlı said the number of people dying of smoking-related diseases will reach 5 million in the world at the end of this year, while noting that Turkish people annually spend $20 billion for cigarettes. She predicted that 100,000 people will die from smoking in Turkey in 2009.
Commenting on the effects of the smoking ban implemented last year in closed public areas, she said: "It will only be the cigarette industry which will see losses. Doctors will see fewer patients at hospitals." She also said regulations made in Turkey to fight smoking are far better than those in most modern countries.
Health Minister Recep Akdağ also gave information about the most recent phase of the smoking ban in Turkey. Stating that the smoking ban, which was introduced on May 19, 2008, will cover all restaurants, coffeehouses and cafes from July 19, 2009, onwards, Akdağ said the ministry will put pictures stressing the harms of smoking to health on cigarette packages. Noting that they are ready to handle the criticism expected from the cigarette industry, Akdağ said their priority is human health.
A WHO official, Armando Peruga, also praised Turkey's efforts to fight smoking and emphasized the regulations Turkey has made.
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