The Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health has released a report emphasising the urgent need to raise health taxes to combat the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Co-chaired by Mike Bloomberg, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, and economist Larry Summers, the Task Force brings together leaders from fiscal, development, and health sectors worldwide. Since its inception in 2018, the Task Force has focused on the role of fiscal policies in reducing NCDs, which remain the leading cause of death globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite recommendations from the Task Force’s 2019 report, which showed that increasing excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages could save millions of lives and generate trillions in revenue, progress has stalled. This latest report highlights the ongoing health and fiscal crises exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the need for immediate action to implement health taxes. The findings aim to reignite global efforts to leverage fiscal policies as a means to relieve healthcare systems, improve public health, and generate much-needed domestic revenue.