Each year, World Health Organization (WHO) has honoured the respective individuals and organizations from each of the six WHO Regions for their outstanding contributions to tobacco control. From WHO South-East Asia, out of FIVE Recipients, People’s Health Foundation of Myanmar received the prestigious 2026 WNTD Award, in May this year at the eve of World Health Assembly.
People’s Health Foundation (PHF) is a distinguished and leading non-governmental organization, established since December 21, 2012, and organizing non-communicable diseases control including diabetes and hypertension, and tobacco control in Myanmar. One of the main objectives of PHF is to provide technical and financial assistance to activities related to national tobacco and tobacco product consumption control; studying and recommending for development of health legislation and policies; and collaborating with various multi-media channels to raise people’s health awareness; and to strengthen establishing new networks and social community; and to enhance ability of operation. For almost fifteen years, PHF has worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, as well as sub-national authorities, civil society partners including Myanmar NCD Alliance, and regional and international organizations to advance comprehensive tobacco control policies and programmes nationwide.
PHF has played an instrumental role in the development, strengthening, and enforcement of Myanmar’s Control of Smoking and Consumption of Tobacco Product Law of 2006 and its subsequent regulations. They have also been central to adoption of new legislation and implementation of standardized tobacco packaging making Myanmar the third country in Asia to adopt this global best practice. They have supported strengthening of tobacco taxation, and the development of a code of conduct for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to safeguard public health policies from tobacco industry interference.
As part of strengthening the tobacco control activities, PHF has organized annual events of World No-Tobacco Day (WNTD) Celebration, and also commemorating it by issuing a WNTD Magazine and organizing seminars/education events. PHF supported establishing smoke-free places by defining locality like, heritage places, large tourist areas, universities, pilgrimage places, etc. One of these places, Bagan Heritage Place has received ASEAN Ministers’ ASEAN Smoke-free Award for 2024.
PHF has argued with health and economic reasons against the delay tactics by the tobacco industries who pursued for further delay in printing and producing standardized packaging for reasons related to importation and export, as well as investment issues. MoH has to agree on this matter by postponement of the notification, but finally the industries (major cigarette industries) agreed to implement by October 2025. PHF still needs to advocate for adherence to the law by other industries both through the ministerial formal committee and media.
In recent years, the rapid emergence of new tobacco and nicotine products has posed unprecedented public health challenges, particularly by targeting and endangering children and adolescents in Myanmar. PHF has effectively disseminated international experience, best practices, and local evidence to support a comprehensive ban on electronic smoking devices and heated smoking devices, including e-cigarettes, shisha, and other heated tobacco products, through a series of seminars, workshops and public education, as well as sharing legal position papers. Recent advocacy and technical support have resulted in adoption of ministerial order for banning electronic smoking devices including e-cigarettes and related products in early 2026.
PHF, through its sustained commitment, strategic leadership, technical expertise, and strong partnerships, made an outstanding and lasting contribution to tobacco control in Myanmar and remains a key driver of progress in protecting public health from the harms of tobacco.
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