Tobacco control in Qatar from 2002 to 2022: 20 years of progress and challenges.

Abstract

Tobacco use and exposure has been known as one of the leading causes of premature mortality worldwide. Tobacco control measures have been considered one of the strategies for reducing the burden of NCDs, improving public health, and strengthening the health system's response to threats and pandemics. The State of Qatar has put tobacco control a national public health priority as it has adopted various tobacco control measures that the WHO classified as high-impact measures. This has resulted in achieving tobacco control milestones which led to constant monitoring of tobacco use and the provision of smoking cessation services at all healthcare levels. However, there is still much work to be done to fill the gaps and respond to the emergence of novel tobacco products and market strategies in an effective way. This review highlights the status of tobacco use and exposure in the State of Qatar, and focus on the progress, and challenges in the implementation of tobacco control policies and smoking cessation services between 2002 and 2022.