BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: It is unusual in the Latin American region to observe the heath sector actively developing tools to counteract tobacco industry interference. INC is a government agency that provides technical advice on cancer policy, including tobacco control measures. In their strategic planning processes they acknowledge said interference as a structural obstacle to advance in the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and to reach Cancer policy goals. Unfortunately, most government staff involved in FCTC implementation have difficulties understanding the issues related to interference, and when they do, feel helpless in terms on appropriate ways to proceed. In addition, personnel in charge of tobacco control implementation has a high turnover rate.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: Fundación Anáas was commissioned by INC to develop a toolkit that standardizes an inter-sector intervention to increase public servants capacity in two areas: a) increased commitment to prevent interference by understanding its nature of interference, and b) incorporating procedures inside their own institutions using transparency and anti-corruption best practices that improve compliance with article 5.3 guidelines. The toolkit is described in a document with an introduction to Article 5.3 guidelines and training materials, such as short case studies, videos, and presentations, links to global resources to monitor interference or to learn how to comply with FCTC mandates. It was essential to gather all these materials and provide clear instructions on how to implement workshops in order to replicate ​efficiently and accurately the intervention.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: INC implemented the first four-hour workshop applying the toolkit on May 2024, and a second one was organized by the Ministry of Health in September. Altogether 26 participants of the tobacco control inter-sector group received training. Next steps involve training of health authorities at the subnational level.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing capacity at local level to implement Article 5.3 guidelines requires adaptations to institutional contexts and low-cost, replicable interventions.