THE World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments worldwide to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50 per cent by the year 2035, in a bid to curb harmful consumption and boost public health funding.
The United Nations health agency said that higher prices on these products, achieved through taxation, could help prevent millions of premature deaths caused by non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes — which collectively account for three-quarters of global mortality.
According to a 2024 report by the Healthcare Tax Policy working group, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, a one-off global price hike of 50 per cent by 2035 could avert up to 50 million premature deaths over the following five decades.
The initiative is part of the WHO’s “3 by 35” strategy, which aims to generate US\$1 trillion in new revenue over the next decade. The funds are intended to be channelled into healthcare, education, and social protection systems.
“The 3 by 35 Initiative aims to revitalise health taxes as a powerful tool to reduce harmful consumption, save lives, and generate vital public revenue,” the WHO said in a statement. - July 3, 2025
