From Sweden to the UAE: A successful public health model

PARTNER CONTENT

What can we learn from a country that has reduced daily smoking to just 3.7 per cent?

Last updated: October 22, 2026 | 08:00

4 MIN READ

From left: Consultant pulmonologist Dr Mohammad Fawzi Katranji, Dr Rachel Kaminski from Saudi German Hospital, Suely Castro, Founder of Quit Like Sweden, Beatriz Santos, CCO at We Are Innovation and addiction specialist Dr Garrett McGovern at the event, Innovation in Public Health: The Swedish Experience

Sweden is the only country in Europe to reach smoke-free status, 16 years ahead of the EU's 2040 target. That success was the focus of the event, Innovation in Public Health: The Swedish Experience, held by Quit Like Sweden (QLS) at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah on October 12.

QLS, an independent public health initiative founded by Suely Castro, studies the lessons behind that success.…