India, July 3 -- The World Health Organization has launched a major new initiative urging countries to raise real prices on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50 percent by 2035 through health taxes in a move designed to curb chronic diseases and generate critical public revenue.
The '3 by 35' Initiative comes at a time health systems are under enormous strain from rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), shrinking development aid and growing public debt.
The consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks are fueling the NCD epidemic. NCDs, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, account for more than 75 percent of all deaths worldwide. A recent report shows that a one-time 50 percent price increase on these product...