'Time to act': WHO urges countries on life-saving health taxes

________________

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a major new initiative urging countries to raise real prices on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 through health taxes.

The move is designed to curb chronic diseases and generate critical public revenue.

The “3 by 35” Initiative, as it has been dubbed, comes at a time when health systems are under enormous strain from rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), shrinking development aid and growing public debt.

The UN health agency says the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks is fueling the NCD epidemic.

NCDs, which include heart disease, cancer and diabetes, account for over 75% of all deaths worldwide.

'Time to act'

A recent report shows that a one-time 50% price increase on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years.

“Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO's assistant director-general of health promotion and disease prevention and control.

“They cut the consumption of harmful products and create revenue governments can reinvest in health care, education, and social protection. It’s time to act.”

WHO says the initiative has an ambitious but achievable goal of raising US$1 trillion over the next 10 years.

Between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries raised tobacco taxes, which resulted in an increase of real prices by over 50% on average, showing that large-scale change is possible.

From Colombia to South Africa, governments that have introduced health taxes have seen reduced consumption and increased revenue. Yet many countries continue to provide tax incentives to unhealthy industries, including tobacco, WHO says in a statement.

Moreover, long-term investment agreements with industry that restrict tobacco tax increases can further undermine national health goals.

The health agency is urging governments to review and avoid such exemptions to support effective tobacco control and protect public health.

It says strong collaboration is at the heart of the “3 by 35” Initiative’s success.

WHO is calling on countries, civil society, and development partners to support the “3 by 35” Initiative and commit to smarter, fairer taxation that protects health and accelerates progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).