The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages countries to increase the prices of sweetened drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 percent in the next 10 years through taxation, which has so far the strongest tax support will help with the solution to chronic public health problems.
The United Nations Health Agency announced that this move will help reduce the consumption of these products, which contribute to diseases such as diabetes and some types of cancer, as well as collecting money in time when development is reduced, and public debt is growing.
“Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have,” said Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director General of the WHO for the promotion of health and prevention and control of the disease. “It’s time to act.”
The WHO launched the initiative, called “3 for 35”, at the UN Conference on Seville Financials. Who announced that their tax initiative could collect a billion dollars by 2035. based on the proof of health tax in countries like Columbia and South Africa. WHO decades support taxes on tobacco and increasing prices and in recent years calls for taxes on alcohol and sweetened drinks, but this is the first time they have proposed a targeted price increase for all three products.
General Manager of WHO dr. Tedros Adhan GheBreyesus said in the conference that taxes could help governments “adapt to new reality” and strengthen their own health systems with money collected. Almost 140 countries have already raised taxes on tobacco, and thus prices, on average for more than 50 percent between 2012. and 2022, the WHO added.
Sandoval said that the WHO also considers broader tax recommendations, including ultra-processed food, after the Agency finalizes its definition of that type of food. But he added that the Agency awaits resistance from the industries involved. The initiative also support Bloomberg Philanthropies, World Bank and Economic Cooperation Organization and Development (OECD), and includes support to countries that want to take measures, writes Radio Sarajevo.
