GENEVA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) applauded on Friday the Brazilian government's action to seek compensation recovery of healthcare costs related to the treatment of tobacco-induced diseases.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney-General of Brazil filed a lawsuit at the Federal Court of Rio Grande do Sul against the largest tobacco corporations in Brazil and their parent companies abroad.

The office said that according to studies, public health spending triggered by tobacco consumption amounts to tens of billions of Reais annually. It claimed costs generated in the Brazilian healthcare system for the treatment of patients suffering from 26 diseases linked to the consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke.

The claim refers to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), calling for the government to take the necessary measures to deal with civil liability, including compensation, for the purpose of tobacco control.

The WHO said Friday that it applauds the Brazilian government's action to seek compensation from multinational tobacco companies for the social and economic costs of suffering and healthcare resulting from tobacco-related disease.

It holds that the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 7 million people a year, while tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke is known to dramatically raise the cost of health care, among other costly impacts on society.

The Secretariat of the WHO FCTC aims to support parties with information that will help them better understand and address issues related to liability, including on healthcare cost recovery.

The WHO FCTC is currently implemented by 181 parties that are determined to give priority to their right to protect public health. It equips parties with means to tackle the burden that tobacco places on people and national health systems.