In a new White Paper, “Public Health—Much Harder than Rocket Science,” Philip Morris International (PMI) (NYSE:PM) looks at the dynamics between consumers, corporations and authorities across a range of global public health issues. It is based on a recent global survey conducted by IPSOS.

Consumers all over the world want their governments to do better at solving major public health issues, according to the IPSOS survey of 31,000 respondents across 31 countries commissioned by PMI. In the survey, respondents were asked how important they believed it is for governments to dedicate time and resources to nine global health issues: air pollution, mental health, STDs, healthier food products, opioid abuse, smoking and alcohol abuse, unwanted pregnancies and obesity.

When asked about the role of technology and innovation in addressing these issues, 91 per cent of respondents believed technology and innovation had an important role to play. However, respondents did not evaluate government performance highly; more than half (56 per cent) believed the authorities had done a poor job of ensuring access to the latest innovations and advancements that can improve public health.

Introduced by PMI in Davos, “Public Health—Much Harder than Rocket Science,” reviews further the discussions surrounding these important public health issues and the interplays between public vs. private impact and human behavior. It concludes that a collaborative approach is possible: Corporations themselves may well be able to help address some of the public health issues relating to their products. And, authorities would be well advised to tap into corporate resources and use their ingenuity and self-interest to create compelling solutions. With the right discussion and oversight, corporations can be reliable partners in helping governments deal with some of today’s public health issues.

“Given the scale of these public health challenges, it’s unrealistic to expect advice and exhortations from health authorities alone to make the difference,” argues Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President, Global Communications at PMI. “To truly help large numbers of people make the changes they want and need will take a combination of evidence-based public policy initiatives, new technologies and new products. The public deserve—and are asking—to hear about better possibilities, regardless of where they have come from.”

For more information or to read the complete White Paper, or to learn more about what PMI is doing to create a smoke-free future visit, PMI.com.

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Survey Methodology

Conducted by IPSOS Hong Kong Limited (September 2018); margin of error ±0.6% at the 95 percent confidence interval. All data can be viewed at https://www.pmi.com/media-center/news/public-supports-alternatives-to-cigarettes.

Philip Morris International: Building a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine containing products in markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heated tobacco and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of September 30, 2018, PMI estimates that approximately 5.9 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI’s heated tobacco product, which is currently available for sale in 43 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, see our PMI and PMIScience websites.

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