WHO Cessation Consortium

The vision of the WHO Tobacco Cessation Consortium is that all tobacco users, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries, shall be aware of, and have access^[1] to available and affordable evidence-based management and treatment services for tobacco dependence, to help them stop their tobacco use.   

The mission of the Consortium is to support WHO’s activities in countries to strengthen and scale up services aimed at managing and treating tobacco dependence around the world, taking into consideration the needs and context of each country, and aiming that tobacco cessation strategies and tobacco dependence treatment measures are:

• Synergistic with other tobacco control measures;
• Based on the best available evidence of effectiveness;
• Accessible and affordable;
• Inclusive; and,
• Protected from all commercial and vested interests, including the tobacco industry.

The objectives of The Consortium include:

1. Advocacy, communication, and awareness-raising;
2. Technical assistance for health systems strengthening;
3. Promoting new and innovative approaches;
4. Optimization of Resources;
5. Strengthen networking and knowledge sharing; and,
6. Research and Development on tobacco dependence treatment

The initial Working Groups planned under the Consortium are as follows:

1. Tobacco Cessation Pharmacotherapies and Supply Working Group;
2. Advocacy and Policy Working Group;
3. Health Systems Strengthening and Capacity Building Working Group;
4. Digital and Technology Working Group; and,
5. Research and Development on Tobacco Dependence Treatment.

The following entities can be members of The Consortium:

1. Intergovernmental organizations;
2. Nongovernment organizations (NGOs);
3. Private sector entities organized through constituencies or international business associations;
4. Philanthropic foundations; and,
5. Academic institutions.

• The Consortium can be used as WHO’s vehicle for market shaping of NRTs, bupropion and varenicline, the three essential medicines for tobacco cessation to make them accessible and affordable in countries.
• The Consortium could also be used as a tool to pool funds for WHO’s tobacco cessation activities worldwide.
• The Consortium will serve as the incubator and hub for innovative solutions including digital technology solutions, such as AI tool, working closely with the Be Healthy Be Mobile Initiative of WHO-ITU.
• The Consortium could provide guidance on R&D focused on tobacco dependence treatment.
• The Consortium is expected to serve as a knowledge hub for countries to obtain the necessary resources and guidance needed for scaling up cessation services, tools, including updating their national essential medicines lists in line with Model WHO EML list. To this effect they could look at complementary measures such as voluntary licensing mechanisms, pooled procurement, and price negotiation to promote equitable and affordable access to various behavioral counselling tools and pharmacotherapies.