Inside the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: A Landmark WHO Treaty

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) might not make headlines today, but it was the first treaty negotiated under the World Health Organization—and it changed the global public health landscape forever. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan returns to unpack the story behind this groundbreaking treaty. We explore how the FCTC was negotiated in an era before Zoom calls and WhatsApp, the political and economic tensions that shaped its development, and how it continues to influence tobacco control policies worldwide—despite evolving challenges like vaping, flavored products, and social media marketing. From legal battles with Big Tobacco to global policy coordination, we break down why this treaty still matters for local public health professionals. References for Our Discussion ◼️TDR ◼️Global Health Matters Podcast Guest ◼️Dr Garry Aslanyan Host(s) & Producer(s) ◼️ Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH, PMP® Production Notes ◼️ Music from Johnny Harris x Tom Fox: The Music Room Subscribe to the Newsletter Subscribe to The Insight newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest podcast episodes, live events, job skills, learning opportunities, and other engaging professional development content here. Leave Us Some Feedback If you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to subscribe and leave us a rating on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and spread the word to your friends to help us get discovered by more people. You can also interact directly with the podcast episodes on Spotify using the new “comment” feature! We’d love to hear what you think. Send us a Text Message to let us know what you think.