The General Assembly of the Global Network for Tobacco-free Healthcare Services (GNTH), an independent, international, not-for-profit association registered in Switzerland, took place on 17 September in Dublin, Ireland. The purpose of the GNTH is the promotion of tobacco control in hospitals and other health care settings.
Laura Antón, a psychologist from ICO’s Tobacco Control Unit, attended the annual meeting as a representative of the Xarxa Catalana d’Hospitals Sense Fum. During the event, the activities carried out in 2023 were shared, as well as the future actions planned for 2024. The election of the new executive committee for the next two years also took place.
GNTH network members from Catalonia-Spain, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Ireland also had the opportunity to visit a unique modern forensic health centre in Portrane, Ireland. This clinic has been awarded international Gold status by the Global Network for Tobacco Free Healthcare Services. A team of professionals led by Frank Lynch has successfully implemented the GNTH standards with the support of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) under the leadership of Martina Blake, National Lead for Tobacco Free Ireland, and her dedicated team.
The following day they were invited to the annual conference of the Tobacco Free Initiative (HSE), where presentations focused on the latest developments in tobacco control in healthcare settings in Ireland. It was a very successful day highlighting local and global efforts in tobacco control strategies in healthcare settings.
