By Shobha Shukla – CNS
Jakarta, Indonesia — Leaders of sub-national governments from more than 121 cities across 12 countries in Asia and the Pacific have adopted a landmark declaration committing to accelerate action against preventable diseases and premature deaths caused by tobacco use, tuberculosis (TB), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The declaration was passed at the 8th Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) Summit held in Jakarta, as countries face mounting pressure to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. With less than five years remaining, global progress on key health-related targets — including reducing NCD-related deaths by one-third, ending TB, implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and addressing AMR through a One Health approach — remains significantly off track.
The summit brought together mayors, governors, vice governors, members of parliament and senior officials from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. It was organised by APCAT and Vital Strategies in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, ADINKES, The Union, Bloomberg Philanthropies and APCAT Media.
Local leadership at the frontline of global health goals
“Preventable deaths from tobacco use, NCDs, TB and AMR continue to undermine development,” said Dr Tara Singh Bam, Board Director of APCAT and Asia Pacific Director for Tobacco Control at Vital Strategies. “Tobacco alone costs the global economy an estimated US$2 trillion every year. Decisive local leadership is essential to convert political commitments into real public health outcomes and to prevent avoidable illness and premature deaths.”
Dr Bam emphasised that cities and local governments play a critical role in implementing lifesaving policies, particularly as they are closest to communities and health systems.
A decade of city-led health action
Speaking at the summit, Indonesia’s Vice Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Bima Arya Sugiarto, reflected on nearly a decade of APCAT’s work since its establishment in 2016. Formerly the Mayor of Bogor and a long-serving APCAT leader, Dr Bima noted that while the alliance has grown stronger, public health challenges have also intensified.
“Our challenge today is not only reducing tobacco use and other preventable diseases, but also confronting tobacco industry interference,” he said, citing aggressive marketing tactics that often disguise tobacco advertising. “I recently mistook a tobacco advertisement for a candy advert. This is not acceptable.”
Dr Bima called for harmonisation of public health regulations at global, national and local levels and urged leaders to move “beyond declarations” to concrete action. He outlined four priorities for APCAT’s future: collaboration, co-creation of solutions, innovation to counter industry tactics, and regeneration through nurturing new leadership.
Myanmar’s milestone on plain packaging
The summit also highlighted country-level progress, with Myanmar presenting its experience in implementing standardised plain packaging for tobacco products. Dr Kyaw Kan Kaung, Deputy Director General for Disease Control at Myanmar’s Ministry of Health, said the regulation — first announced in 2021 — finally took full effect in October 2025 after sustained delays caused by tobacco industry resistance.
“Despite repeated attempts to derail implementation, Myanmar remained committed,” Dr Kaung said. He underscored the importance of strong coordination between national and sub-national governments, noting that effective enforcement depends heavily on local leadership.
The APCAT 2026 Declaration
In the Jakarta Declaration, leaders from 121 cities committed to a comprehensive set of actions, including enforcing 100% smokefree environments; banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; introducing larger graphic health warnings and plain packaging; expanding smoking cessation services; and prohibiting electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
They also pledged to advocate for higher taxes on unhealthy commodities such as tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages; protect public policy from industry interference; invest in tobacco control as a core strategy to prevent TB, NCDs and stunting; and adopt One Health approaches to strengthen city resilience.
As the summit concluded, participants stressed that cities remain on the frontline of the fight to save lives. With time running out to meet the SDGs, the Jakarta Declaration signals renewed resolve among Asia-Pacific local leaders to turn global commitments into local action.