Tobacco is one of the four main risk factors behind non-communicable diseases of mostly cancers, cardiovascular and lung diseases and diabetes.
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“Front groups such as chambers of commerce and worldwide think tanks engage with governments to prevent, dilute, delay or derail taxation policy development”, stated Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, head of the World Health Organization section overseeing a 2003 worldwide tobacco control treaty. And Tuesday, the head of the World Health Organization weighed in, assailing the chamber over its lobbying practices. He said it meant an additional $1.2 billion in revenue within a year, enabling the government to expand health coverage. Now governments are levying much less tax on smokeless tobacco and regulations do not cover all aspects of smokeless tobacco use.
“The effect is five per cent in low- and middle-income countries, which are home to 80 per cent of the world’s one billion smokers”.
It added that CVS’ departure was “unfortunate” and that reports on its stance on tobacco were part of a “concerted misinformation campaign”.
Mr. Singh said that Nepal has made progress in implementing bans on advertisement, promotion and sponsorships of tobacco products while Myanmar has expanded smoke free places. A cigarette pack in Algeria, for instance, carries a 38.14 percent tax.
Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of WHO’s Department for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), says higher tobacco taxes and prices are proven methods to reduce consumption and promote quitting the use of tobacco products. A small portion goes to sports programs. The company had said the sale of tobacco and related products didn’t fit with its goal of improving public health, a move that won widespread applause from medical experts and mostly Democratic lawmakers.
“Taxing all tobacco products comparably is a must to reduce incentives for substitution”.
The 2015 tobacco report was released in the Philippines in recognition of the country’s efforts and advances in the fight against tobacco consumption.
The report also contains guidelines on how to implement price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
In 2014, the country’s Philippine Health Insurance Corp. launched its Z benefit package, which covers some cancer diseases and open heart surgeries. Taxes are also levied whether or not there is a filter.
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“This report confirms that a failure to increase taxes on tobacco products will certainly lead to more premature death and disease, particularly in low and middle income countries with high levels of smoking and where tobacco is affordable”, Castro said in reference to the report.
