22
Jan

The private sector significantly impacts health via its products and practices. Commercial entities can contribute to global health issues, such as the rise in non-communicable diseases  (NCDs) such as diabetes and cancer due to the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). To date, NCDs remain to be the leading cause of death worldwide.

Health taxes, designed to curb the consumption of such harmful products, offer undeniable health benefits by discouraging use and reducing the risk of chronic illnesses. These taxes also hold potential beyond health, aiding countries in achieving broader development goals. But, due to the effectiveness of health taxes in altering consumer behavior and potentially impacting profits, affected industries vehemently oppose their implementation using a variety of tactics.

In this session, international experts and country representatives will examine health taxes within the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to bolster societal support for these measures. The session will further address the contentious issue of industry interference in health tax policymaking and the consequences of prioritizing commercial interests over public health and sustainable development.