WHO Wants the World to Kick the Habit—By Making It Cost a Pretty Penny

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its ambitious "3 by 35" Initiative, urging all nations on the globe to increase the tax on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by the year 2035. This groundbreaking action is part of a worldwide action to reverse the tide of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, which kill over 75% of all individuals on the planet.

 

Key Highlights:

 

The tax hike is expected to save 50 million lives in the next half-century by reducing the use of such harmful products.

 

WHO estimates that this initiative could generate $1 trillion in public revenue over the next decade, providing critical funds to strengthen health systems amid shrinking development aid and rising public debt.

 

Health taxes do work; between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries raised tobacco tax, leading to over 50% price increases and reduced smoking rates.

 

The program seeks to invest the returns in health, education, and social protection to provide equity and reduce the burden on poor and middle-income countries.

 

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described health taxes as "one of the most efficient tools" to save lives and urged governments to do so urgently.

 

Prospects:

 

WHO's "3 by 35" initiative is a revolutionary move towards fighting the global NCD epidemic with the power of fiscal policy. If implemented in its entirety, it has the potential to transform public health impacts and free up critical resources for sustainable development, making unhealthy products unaffordable and healthier options affordable globally.

 

Source: DD News, India Today, WHO Official Release