Shifting the Smoking Cessation Landscape in Southeast Asia: Expert Perspectives and Recommendations

Most Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and adopted MPOWER measures, but disparities persist regarding the help available to quit tobacco use, encompassing smoking cessation treatments, clinical practice guidelines, health care professional (HCP) training and policy implementation. This expert review evaluates the smoking cessation landscape across ASEAN, identifies barriers and proposes strategies to enhance cessation efforts. The ASEAN Advisory Board on Smoking Cessation, formed in 2023 with 9 experts from 7 countries, aimed to establish best practices and optimize pharmacological and behavioural interventions through a structured advisory board discussion. Two advisory board meetings in 2023 and 2024, supported by a targeted PubMed literature review, informed 12 recommendations to address gaps in pharmacotherapy access, behavioural support, HCP training and policy implementation. Key opportunities include standardized policies, advocating improved pharmacotherapy access, regulatory frameworks for each country and sharing HCP training resources and expertise. Areas of improvement for each country include integrating cessation services into primary care, expanding digital interventions and developing targeted strategies for high-risk populations, including pregnant women, adolescents and individuals with mental illnesses. Increased regional collaboration is vital for harmonizing policies, practices and HCP training, thus ensuring greater, more equitable access to evidence-based cessation support.