On the occasion of the World COPD Day, Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sinthawanarong said COPD is currently the fourth highest cause of death after cancer, heart disease and stroke, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.
Three million out of more than 80 million COPD patients worldwide die of the disease annually, and the number of patients is expected to increase by 30 percent by 2020.
Common causes of COPD include smoking, second-hand smoking and smoke inhaled from burning materials.
Data from the Bureau of Epidemiology from the Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control showed 90 percent of cases of Emphysema and COPD reported among 99,433 patients from 2007-2011 were caused by smoking.
A survey conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2011 found 11.5 million of Thais aged 15 years or above were smokers.
Dr. Pradit said his ministry's campaigns will focus on "3-reductions, 3-increases" strategies, including reducing the percentage of new smokers and smokers in rural areas; reducing second-hand smoking at home and in public places; and increasing mechanisms to prevent the private tobacco industry from interfering with the government's tobacco control policy.
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