At the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, leaders led by Ghana’s President Mahama and ex-Nigerian president Obasanjo called for African-funded health systems, rejecting aid dependency. WHO’s Tedros urged health taxes, efficiency, and sovereignty to counter massive aid...
Health taxes on products like tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks are a highly effective yet underused tool in Africa for reducing disease and premature death, while simultaneously generating domestic revenue. These taxes can help governments save lives, lessen...
The EU plans a 15% levy on member states’ tobacco tax revenues, channeling €11.2B a year into its budget. Dramatic new tax hikes aim to curb smoking and expand funds, with measures factoring in declining tobacco use and anticipated cuts to healthcare costs.The...
Ethiopia’s excise tax reforms on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks showcase political and multisectoral leadership, generating revenue and reducing NCDs while advancing Universal Health Coverage and health system resilience.Ethiopia is emerging as a leader in health...
The EU is weighing major tobacco tax hikes and new levies for its 2028–2034 budget, but Sweden and others oppose high taxes on nicotine pouches, citing harm reduction. Critics warn pouches may lead to youth addiction and note limited research.A recent proposal from...
India must raise taxes on tobacco and sugary drinks to curb health risks and recover economic costs, argue Nagarajan and John in a new World Bank blog, urging a Health Cess and stronger excise policies. In a World Bank blog post, Mohan Nagarajan and Rijo M. John...
Nigeria proposes a public health tax on sugar, alcohol, and tobacco to fund non-communicable disease (NCD) programmes, alongside the WHO-backed PEN-Plus strategy for severe NCD care.The Nigerian government is considering a new public health tax on products high in...
The private sector at DRC is involved in discussions on an innovative financing mechanism, a specific tax earmarked for health promotion. The revenue from this tax on harmful products is intended to feed the Health Promotion Fund on a permanent basis. On June 11,...
Since 2000, Rwanda has made remarkable progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) through a Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) system, but now faces chronic financial sustainability challenges as it aims for higher health-care standards under Vision 2050. A...
As foreign aid dwindles, African nations are urged to improve tax systems to fund health needs. Experts stress the need for fairer, more transparent taxation to rebuild public trust. With foreign aid cuts deepening healthcare crises across Africa, experts and...
Tanzania aims to raise Sh586.4 billion through new domestic taxes to close HIV and health financing gaps, as global donor support declines. The move marks a strategic shift in health financing.Tanzania has announced plans to raise Sh586.4 billion through new domestic...
Bangladesh's health sector faces urgent challenges as it approaches the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Health Sector Reform Commission Report 2025 proposes significant constitutional amendments and systemic...
As noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) place increasing strain on health systems in low- and middle-income countries, the need for sustainable financing solutions is more urgent than ever. With development assistance stagnating and domestic budgets stretched thin,...
This study in the Pan American Journal of Public Health from 2022 explores the case of investing in tobacco control in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Suriname. Health taxes, for example on tobacco products, are considered opportune for both reducing unhealthy...
This 2016 policy brief produced by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (with the support of the NCD Alliance) provides an overview of the approaches used by the Barbados Ministry of Finance in the adoption of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation.
