Jacek Olczak, CEO, Philip Morris International
Adopt a scientific midpoint to quit or die
On Day 2 of The Economic Times Global Business Summit, Jacek Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris International, talked about how innovative science-based products can encourage smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives.
Excerpts from Olczak’s speech at ET GBS 2023
Science, innovation, and technology have paved the transformational roadmap in harm reduction resulting in rapid improvements in public health for the world, today. Deep research has indicated that if incorporated well, this can be instrumental toward the greater good of prevention – ultimately saving lives.
There are still around 1 billion people worldwide who smoke. Imagine if we could get them to stop—either by quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether (always the best choice) or for those who don’t by switching to safer alternatives, now available. For too long, smokers have been given a binary option: They can quit or continue smoking. We know the reality remains, that a vast majority are unable to stop—which is why the World Health Organization forecasts there will still be around a billion smokers in 2025.
What if we could significantly reduce that number by offering those adults who can’t quit another option: smoke-free products that are scientifically demonstrated to be a much better choice than continued cigarette use?
Globally, public health authorities and other experts have begun to recognize the public health potential of this new category of products. Many countries worldwide have embraced tobacco harm reduction policies and are seeing results.
India has a history of harm reduction policies that worked. And now it has an enormous opportunity to encourage smokers to abandon cigarettes and other products to switch to better alternatives for their health and public health. It is time to work together to leverage science and technology for positive change that could bring dozens of millions of Indians to live better lives.
(The article has been authored by Jacek Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris International)
Disclaimer: Content Produced by ET Edge
