Consumers International supported the World Health Organisation's strategic document entitled Health for All, which advocates the development of effective primary health care policies that guarantee access to health care for all. Yussuf Saloojee, executive director of the National Council Against Smoking, pointed to an about-turn by the tobacco industry that saw it admit that smoking causes cancer. It is a case of bend with the wind or be broken. In her closing address to the congress, trade and industry deputy minister Lindiwe Hendricks argued for greater consumer protection. Other studies, she said, had also raised worrying findings.
Language is also an impediment to sound consumer relations.
She said the state's consumer protection policy was in line with the resolutions adopted at the congress. The comprehensive restructuring of the national consumer affairs office would be influenced by the deliberations of the delegates. It is aimed at making the office more effective, efficient and relevant to the clientele it serves. We are opening our arms and will go all out to get the affected institutions to tell us their views on these matters. In fact, experience has shown that policy decisions made without the involvement of the main affected parties may be improper or outright wrong.