The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for higher taxes on health-risk products such as tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks, as a strategy to save lives and generate public revenue.
Speaking at the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals conference in Sevilla, WHO launched its new ‘3 by 35’ Initiative, urging governments to increase the real prices of these products by at least 50% by the year 2035.
According to Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General, health taxes remain one of the most effective tools for reducing consumption of harmful substances while funding essential services.
“These taxes not only cut down the intake of harmful products but also raise funds that governments can reinvest in health care, education, and social protection,” Farrar said.
He emphasized that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer now account for over 75% of global deaths.
Farrar noted that a one-time 50% price increase on these products could prevent up to 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years and generate $1 trillion in public revenue.
Between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries raised taxes on tobacco, demonstrating that policy shifts in this direction are both feasible and impactful.
Farrar cited these examples as evidence that tax reforms can be implemented successfully and yield measurable public health benefits.
