Table 1.
Key Players and Their Roles in Tobacco Control in Nepal (2011–2018)
| Role and involvement | |
|---|---|
| Government Organizations | |
| National Health Education, Information and Communication Center, Ministry of Health (MoH). | Develop, implement, and monitor tobacco control policy and programs. Nepal government liaison office for tobacco control. |
| Funding: CTFK/Bloomberg: (1) Fund to establish tobacco control program and secure passage of policy by the Parliament (2010–2012); (2) strengthening of tobacco-control efforts in Nepal through effective implementation and enforcement of tobacco control policies (2013–2015). Nepal government, and UKAID. | |
| Non-government Organizations—tobacco control | |
| 1. Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) | Advocacy for tobacco control policy and programs from 1982 onward. Case filed in the Supreme Court for policy implementation. |
| Funding: CTFK/Bloomberg: Smoke Free Kathmandu Valley: Towards implementation of 100% Smoke Free environments in the health and hospitality sectors (2012–2013). Receive funding from Nepal government, local resources and other international agencies after 2013. | |
| 2. Health and Environment Awareness Forum Nepal (HEAFON) | Advocacy for tobacco control policy from 2007 to 2014. |
| Funding: Nepal National Health Fund, and WHO. | |
| 3. Resource Centre for Primary Health Care (RECPHEC) | Advocacy for tobacco control policy and programs from 1991 onward. |
| Funding: CTFK/Bloomberg (2007–2010) for policy advocacy and other agencies. Did not receive funding for tobacco control after 2010 but used other funds for tobacco control program. | |
| 4. Action Nepal | Advocacy for tobacco control policy from 2008 onward. Case filed in the Supreme Court for 90% HWLs implementation. |
| Funding: CTFK/Bloomberg: (1) Enforcement of a 75% Pictorial Health warning in Nepal: mobilization of media and policy makers (2014–2015); (2) policy and media action to facilitate implementation of 90% Pictorial Health warning in Nepal (2015); (3) building government commitments to improve taxation on tobacco products and ensure effective implementation a 90% Pictorial Health warning in Nepal (2016–2017); (4) advancing tobacco control in Nepal (2018–2020). | |
| International Organizations | |
| The Union/International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | Technical support to MoH. |
| World Health Organization | Technical support to MoH. |
| CTFK/Bloomberg Philanthropies (Bloomberg Initiative Grant) | Financial support to MoH and other NGOs. |
| The FCTC Secretariat | Technical support to MoH and other government sectors. |
| Key tobacco industry actors | |
| Surya Nepal Private Limited (SNPL) | Filed case in court and interference with tobacco control policy. A subsidiary of ITC India and BAT, since 2000 Nepal’s largest tobacco company. |
| Seti Cigarette Factory Ltd | Filed case in court and interference with tobacco control policy. |
| Perfect Blends Nepal Pvt Ltd (PBNPL) | Filed case in court and interference with tobacco control policy. |
| Gorkha Lahari Pvt. Ltd | Filed case in court and interference with tobacco control policy. |
| Other tobacco groups | |
| Shrestha Bidi Factory Mira Bidi Factory Arbinda Bidi Factory Anuska Production Pvt. Ltd Chetrapal Store (retailer) Sruti Churot Karkhana Ltd SNPL Bara employees Union Nepal Multinational Company Trade Union Santalal Banda (represented a tobacco farmer) | Filed case in the Supreme Court against the government (writ no. 068-WS-0022, and others). |
| Front groups and allies | |
| Nepal Multinational Company Trade Union Tobacco Farmer Association Tobacco Retailers Association Tobacco Industry Labor Union Hotel and Restaurant Labor Union Hotel Association Nepal Distributor Association Nepal Retailers Association Nepal Pan Traders Association Nepal Super Market Association Restaurant Association Nepal Tobacco Association | Supported tobacco industry against tobacco control law. |
| Transnational tobacco industry allies | |
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce | Opposed the law’s implementation. |
| Samriddhi Foundation86 | Coalition against plain packaging. |