(Shutterstock)India’s health ministry has advised all the state governments against partnering with the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) because of its links to tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc, a letter seen by Reuters shows. It says it works independently, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said there are “clear conflicts” because of the $80-million the foundation receives annually from Philip Morris. The health ministry has sent a letter, dated June 24, to the chief secretaries of all the states, saying their governments should not partner with FSFW. The ministry said Philip Morris was funding FSFW as well as manufacturing and promoting harm-reduction smoking devices. “Any collaboration with the Foundation for a Smoke Free World should be avoided in the larger interest of public health,” senior health ministry official Sanjeeva Kumar wrote in the letter.

Source: The Telegraph June 30, 2019 21:52 UTC