International health experts at a harm reduction summit discussed the need to regulate less harmful alternatives of nicotine delivery in a risk-proportionate manner while urging authorities for stricter restrictions on traditional cigarettes.

Notable public health experts, policymakers and media personnel gathered at the Bangladesh THR Summit 2023 at Le Meridian Dhaka on Saturday to discuss the role of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) for supporting Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Smoke-free Bangladesh’ by 2040.

THR is a public health strategy to reduce or minimize the health risks to individuals and wider society associated with the use of conventional tobacco products.

THR amplifies the value of smoking cessation, but where smokers are unwilling or unable to quit, the use of innovative smoke free technologies, that deliver nicotine without the harmful bits – smoke or tar.

Currently, the U.K., Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and many other progressive nations of the world are encouraging the use of such products to reduce smoking incidence by regulating them through a risk-proportionate regulatory framework.

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