The World Health Organization has honoured Nepal for its ‘outstanding contribution’ to tobacco control.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2025, Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population has received the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award, alongside a number of other institutions and individuals from around the world.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented the award to Nepal’s Minister of Health and Population Pradeep Paudel, who is currently in Geneva to take part in the 78th World Health Assembly.

The WHO stated that Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population was selected for the honour this year as part of its annual tradition of recognising individuals and institutions for their exceptional contributions to tobacco control.

Minister Paudel had decided that 100 percent warning messages should be displayed on both sides of the packet of tobacco products.

This decision is yet to be implemented. The WHO described this move by the Nepal government as an extraordinary contribution to public health.

As many as 28 percent of men and five percent of women in Nepal smoke tobacco, according to the final report of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022.