British News Agency

Ghebreyesus emphasized that such taxes reduce countries’ dependence on external aid and support the transition to sustainable and self-sufficient health systems. Citing the Philippines as an example, he noted that the 2013 tax reform on tobacco and alcohol products increased revenues fivefold, enabling more than 15 million families to be covered by the national health insurance system.

According to WHO data, as of July 2024, excise taxes are applied to tobacco products in at least 183 countries worldwide, to alcoholic beverages in 167 countries, and to sugary drinks in 116 countries.

Ghebreyesus also stated that the WHO has published two new reports containing global assessments of alcohol and sugary drink taxes and will continue to support more countries in designing and implementing health taxes to protect public health.