Tobacco - A Silent Risk and Commitment to Action for a "UMC smoke‑free"

Smoking not only harms the smoker but also severely impacts the health of those around them. With the goal of building a fresh, safe, and smoke‑free hospital environment, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (BV ĐHYD) - UMC is steadfastly implementing regulations to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco, aiming to protect public health and improve the quality of patient care

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco causes more than 8 million deaths each year, including 1.3 million non‑smokers who die from exposure to secondhand smoke.

The harmful effects of tobacco affect almost all organs in the body, from the respiratory, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems to vision, causing a multitude of serious diseases such as lung cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, miscarriage, preterm birth, and immune deficiency. Particularly, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasingly popular among young people, marketed as “less harmful,” yet they still contain nicotine and many other toxic substances, leading to addiction and severely impacting the developing cardiovascular, pulmonary, and brain systems.

In view of this situation, UMC is not only a treatment facility but also a health education environment, pioneering the creation of a smoke‑free hospital and helping spread a healthy lifestyle to the community. As a leading medical institution, the Hospital earnestly implements the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm (2012), Decision 5281/QĐ-BYT (2009) and Directive 05/CT-BYT (2013), which strictly prohibit smoking throughout the entire medical campus. Here, this regulation is uniformly applied across the whole system, from outpatient clinics and inpatient wards to administrative areas. The Hospital regularly disseminates information, reminds, and integrates anti‑tobacco content into health education activities for patients, families, and healthcare staff. The staff and workers are not only enforcers of the regulation but also sources of inspiration, ready to counsel and support patients in quitting smoking, while also leading by example with a smoke‑free lifestyle, contributing to a friendly, modern, and humane hospital image.

Along with this, the Hospital calls on each individual to join hands in creating a smoke‑free medical environment, for the health of oneself, loved ones, and the community. Quitting smoking is never too late. A smoke‑free environment is the foundation for a healthy community. Let’s start with each of us to build a green, clean, and smoke‑free environment.