According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year tobacco smoking kills around 5.4 million people worldwide. Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer. In Poland, an average of 67,000 people die every year on account of smoking. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health security guaranteed by local governments based on an analysis of health policy programs associated with tobacco consumption, which were conducted in Poland from 2009 to 2014 by local governments. The study was based on desk research. The data was sourced from the annual reports submitted to the Minister of Health, concerning the health policy programs which were carried out. The analysis covered programs which name, objective or description of tasks indicated that they concerned tobacco smoking. The largest number of programs was completed in the West Pomeranian, Warmian-Masurian and Masovian voivodeships. The smallest number of programs were completed in Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Łódź and Opole voivodeships. The greatest number of programs were carried out by municipalities, followed by counties and county towns, and finally by self-governments of the voivodeships. The number of preventive programs was significantly greater than the number of other types of programs. The majority of programs were aimed at children; there were fewer programs dedicated to adults. The expenditure on the programs was the highest in self-governments of the voivodeships, while the lowest was in municipalities. The steady growth in the number of anti-smoking programs completed 2009-2014 was one of the factors that reduced tobacco smoking. In view of the mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases, the inhabitants of Lublin and Warmian-Masurian voivodeships had their health needs addressed most efficiently. In the case of mortality rates due to tracheal, bronchial and lung cancer, the health needs of the inhabitants of Warmian-Masurian and West Pomeranian voivodeships were addressed most efficiently.
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