Tobacco use costs $ 1.4 trillion annually

New Technical Guide to Tobacco Tax Policy and Administration It shows the ways in which countries have lost more than $ 1.4 trillion in health care costs and lost their productivity due to tobacco use around the world.

Improved tobacco tax policies could be a key part of rebuilding better after COVID-19, and countries need more money to respond and improve the health system.

Jeremiah said: “To provide improved, clear and practical guidelines for policymakers, finance officials, tax authorities, customs officials and others involved in tobacco tax policy.” They said. N. Paul Jerr, Head of the Department of Health Policy Accounting at the World Health Promotion Unit.

We hope that this document sheds light on the important benefits of raising tobacco taxes. The information and understanding presented here should be open to policy makers around the world. ”

The ‘best purchase’ highlighted in the guide not only saves money but also saves lives. The human and economic costs of tobacco are rising – 8 million people died as a result of tobacco last year.

Only 14% of the world has enough tax on tobacco

By 2018, only 38 countries, which make up 14% of the world’s population, would have had a sufficiently high tax on tobacco – meaning they would have paid at least 75% of these health-care products. The costs of the tobacco industry to local communities and nations can be eliminated by implementing proven policies, such as tobacco taxes. It is a victory for public health, income and development and justice.

Increasing tobacco taxes is SMART

Tobacco taxes save lives, mobilize resources, address health problems, reduce health system burdens and costs, and target non-communicable hazards to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).