Historical and political context for Philip Morris International's continuing medical education courses on harm reduction.

Abstract

In 2024, Philip Morris International's (PMI) website stated they support 'independent' continuing medical education courses on harm reduction for medical and other healthcare professionals. These courses mirrored industry marketing and political strategies by presenting smokeless tobacco products and e-cigarettes as alternatives to smoking, sometimes without mentioning tobacco cessation. The enactment of the US Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act gave the US Food and Drug Agency jurisdiction over tobacco products and included the industry's 'continuum of risk' frame, and emboldened tobacco companies to make harm reduction claims about these products, which they had previously avoided for fear of triggering restrictive regulation of cigarettes. Opposition from the medical and public health community in the USA and beyond led one large company that partnered with PMI to offer the US courses to withdraw. The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (renamed Global Action to End Smoking in 2024) created by PMI also funded a non-profit to develop continuing medical education on harm reduction. US accrediting bodies for healthcare education do not have policies against certifying tobacco-sponsored courses, and there needs to be ongoing vigilance against such efforts around the world as well as efforts to secure policies at accrediting organisations to not accredit such industry efforts.