The Potential Effects of Tobacco Control in China: Projections from the China SimSmoke Simulation Model

This paper studies the potential impact of the programme ‘SimSmoke Tobacco Control Policy’ in China. China is home to about one third of the world's smokers and reducing smoking in China could have an enormous public health impact, even on a global scale. Even though China raised the tax on tobacco products in 2009, this did not translate to higher retail prices for consumers and the only ban that has been enforced is on public transport. WHO went on to publish a report in 2011 which stated that there were multiple opportunities to improve tobacco control in the country. Complete implementation of World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommended policies in China would prevent almost 13 million smoking related deaths by 2050.