GENEVA: Swiss Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton along with his ministry and stakeholders will evaluate the World Health Organization’s call for heavy taxation of the tobacco industry.
According to details, the Ministry of Health stated that this comes after director general of the WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, and urged countries to increase tobacco related taxes as one way of controlling the use of the product.
Chan made the call while addressing the WHO’s Executive Board at its 140th Session this afternoon in Geneva, Switzerland.
It was based on WHO/US National Cancer Institute landmark report on the economics of tobacco and tobacco control. The report concluded that smoking costs the global economy more than $1 trillion yearly and that smoking will soon kill more than six million people worldwide each year.
Tufton who said he paid special attention to the Director General’s comments on the global health challenges related to tobacco and its effects on non-communicable diseases.
“We view with concern the cost of tobacco related illnesses and the associated cost to public health, globally and nationally. Any measures to discourage smoking and/or support public health are worth considering. We are guided by the WHO report and will discuss further within Government,” Tufton is reported as saying.
According to him, “decision on tax increase on tobacco and its products would be a decision of the Government”.
Chan urged attendees at the conference to be vocal in persuading ministers of finance, trade, foreign affairs, and others not to be swayed by the tobacco industry’s false claims.
Tufton is attending the 140th WHO Executive Board Meeting, which ends February 1.
