Jordan ranks 72/80 on Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index

AMMAN — Jordan lists among the bottom 10 performing countries with a ranking of 72/80 on the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index. 

The index, published by the Global Centre for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), measures efforts by governments to address tobacco industry interference for 80 countries in 2021.

The Jordan Strategic Forum (JSF) cited the index findings for their “Knowledge is Power” report which outlines where Jordan stands on the same report. 

The index is based off of seven indicators, which include level of participation in policy-development, tobacco related corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities alongside benefits to the tobacco industry, amongst others. 

In more specific terms, tobacco is a leading cause of cancer, as cigarettes contain over 60 cancerous chemicals, according to the JSF report.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco consumption results in more than seven million deaths due to direct tobacco use, in addition to 1.2 million deaths due to indirect tobacco use (second hand smokers).

According to a survey conducted by the Jordanian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation in 2019, Jordan tops the world in tobacco consumption.

The JSF cited a 2019 report titled “Investment Case for Tobacco Control in Jordan” which was published as part of the FCTC 2030 project led by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat.

Over 9,000 Jordanians die every year due to tobacco-related diseases, 56 per cent of those deaths occur amongst Jordanians under age 70, according to the 2019 report.

The smoking costs spent by the government on medical treatment due to illness were JD132.8 million, the report said.

On the overall index, Brunei tops the world. Among only six Arab countries, Oman ranks first with a global ranking of 16/80 countries. As for Jordan, the Kingdom ranks last, read the JSF report. 

In “Level of Participation in Policy-Development”, New Zealand tops the world. Jordan’s ranking is at 76/80. 

Concerning “Tobacco Related CSR Activities”, Jordan ranks among the bottom countries, 69/80.

In “Benefits to the Tobacco Industry”, Oman comes in at sixth out of 80 countries. Jordan’s ranking is 76/80, according to the index.

Regarding “Forms of Unnecessary Interaction”, Jordan’s ranking is similar, as the Kingdom comes in at 78/80. In “Transparency”, Jordan ranks somewhere in the middle 45/50, with Sudan listing among the bottom countries with a ranking 76/80. When it comes to “Conflict of Interest”, Jordan comes in at 72nd out of 80 countries.

As for “Preventative Measures”, it is encouraging to note that Jordan ranks among the top countries 16/80, according to

 the index.

The JSF highlighted a campaign by the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Centre (KHCC) titled “jordanXcancer” whose objective is to spread awareness about cancer across Jordan.

The JSF recommends that all policy makers to support such initiatives.

The report also pinpointed the public health law (Article 53), which prohibits smoking in public areas.