To tackle the global rise in non-communicable diseases, researchers urge the G20 to support stronger health taxes on harmful products like sugary drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods.By 2030, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer,...
The World Health Assembly has approved a Nigeria-led resolution urging stronger domestic health financing and reduced out-of-pocket costs to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage.The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) has adopted a landmark resolution...
The policy brief “Tax Systems and Policy: Crucial for Good Health and Good Governance”, published by the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) in May 2025, reframes taxation as a central pillar of equitable and sustainable...
E-cigarettes and Vaping is a growing public health concern among adolescents in Bhutan. Despite a history of stringent tobacco regulations, the rise in vaping and related health issues indicates a need to update laws and impose higher taxes to discourage their use....
A new article in Think Global Health calls for a gender levy on tobacco and alcohol taxes to fund gender-smart health, combat NCDs, and address the industry's manipulation of gender norms.A recent article in Think Global Health by Kent Buse, Jeni Klugman, and Elhadj...
Uganda’s government, facing reduced donor funding, convened a high-level dialogue to prioritize sustainable domestic health financing, emphasizing increased investment in primary care, efficiency, equity, and innovative funding mechanisms. The dialogue concluded with...
In the face of deepening health inequalities and a crisis of underfunding in the UK’s National Health Service, a growing body of experts argues that it is time to revisit the idea of a wealth tax. With over four million children living in relative poverty, and with...
Experts have proposed comprehensive reforms to Pakistan’s primary healthcare system, advocating for health taxes, a shift to prepayment financing, and increased public health spending to improve access and reduce financial burdens on households. The symposium...
A recent study published in Addiction by Jürgen Rehm, Pol Rovira, Ahmed S. Hassan, Claire de Oliveira, Shannon Lange, Mark J. Thompson, Ilona Tamutienė, Vaida Liutkutė-Gumarov, and colleagues evaluates the impact of Lithuania’s 2017 alcohol excise tax increase. The...
Iran's primary healthcare system features a robust network supported by community health workers and has successfully expanded urban services to address significant health challenges. The Health Transformation Plan initiated in 2014 has made substantial strides in...
The Citizens’ Assembly in Switzerland has proposed a tax on sugary foods and drinks as part of six reforms aimed at improving public health, which also includes higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco, enhanced health literacy, and stricter advertising restrictions. The...
India's tobacco governance reveals a stark contradiction, as the government collects over Rs 75,000 crore in tobacco taxes yet allocates less than Rs 50 crore annually to tobacco control programs, resulting in a chronic underfunding of health initiatives. This...
Higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could raise $2.1 trillion for low- and middle-income countries while improving public health and reducing reliance on foreign aid, says the IMF.A new Finance & Development article by Masood Ahmed and Minouche...
Pakistan's Ministry of Health has proposed a 20% health tax on processed and ultra-processed food and beverages as part of a public health strategy to reduce unhealthy consumption and generate revenue for healthcare spending. Pakistan’s Ministry of Health has proposed...
Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is launching innovative financing solutions to boost domestic health funding among member states, encouraging them to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health. This strategy includes piloting new...
