GENEVA: The World Health Organization's (WHO) just-released 'eighth annual report on the global tobacco epidemic' is sadly more proof that billionaire foundations are more influential on the agency's public health guidance than leading international scientific evidence, Asia Pacific's leading Tobacco Harm Reduction consumer advocacy group said.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (Caphra) said the WHO's latest attack on safer nicotine products, reportedly funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, deserves the global condemnation it is receiving.