The document is damning. In a report from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, published on June 12, 2024, it is clearly explained how powerful industries are behind health problems and premature mortality in Europe and Central Asia. Their technique? Interfere and influence “on efforts to prevent and combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes, and their risk factors, including tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets and obesity”.
“Tactics used by industries to maximize profits and harm public health”
“The new report, entitled “Commercial determinants of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region” [Déterminants commerciaux des maladies non transmissibles dans la Région européenne de l’OMS]highlights the wide range of tactics industries employ to maximize profits and harm public health”, indicates the WHO in a press release. “These practices fuel inequalities and rates of cancer, chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes, and constitute a major obstacle to prevention policies.”
Tobacco, ultra-processed foods, fossil fuels and alcohol in the WHO’s sights
According to this report, the tobacco, ultra-processed food, fossil fuel and alcohol industries “are fully or partially responsible for 2.7 million deaths per year”.
“Four sectors cause at least 7,000 victims every day in our Region. These same large business entities block regulations that would protect the public from harmful products and harmful marketing, and protect health policy from industry interference.explained Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. Industry tactics include exploiting vulnerable people through targeted marketing strategies, deceiving consumers and making false claims about the benefits of their products or their environmental performance. These tactics threaten the progress made over the past century in public health, and prevent countries from achieving their health goals. WHO/Europe will work with policymakers to strengthen tactics to protect against and reduce the harmful influence of industry. Today, we provide indisputable proof of the harmfulness of products and business practices, affirming that people must always come before profit.”
We see clearly how the behavior of big corporations harms public health and causes unnecessary illness and suffering.
To combat these harmful health practices, the report launches a call to action to the 53 Member States of the European region to apply stricter regulations in several areas (lobbying, transparency, marketing, etc.) and to fight against commercial influence at all levels (individual, environmental, public policies and political-economic systems).
“The insidious practices of powerful industries are not new, and they will not disappear easily, said Dr Gauden Galea, Strategic Advisor to the Regional Director, Special Initiative on NCDs and Innovation, WHO Regional Office for Europe. This is a long-term effort that requires, above all, political will. We see clearly how the behavior of big corporations harms public health and causes unnecessary illness and suffering. The various case studies presented in our report reveal the extent of industry interference in our Region, and show that our current NCD prevention mechanisms are completely inadequate. Countries must report on their progress at the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2025, and time is running out. We must all – Member States, civil society, academia and international organizations – make the necessary efforts to protect public policies and future generations against preventable chronic diseases.”
