Frequently asked questions about tobacco control policies for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

Frequently asked questions about tobacco control policies for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

Tobacco use kills nearly six million people every year, including the 600 000 who are exposed to second-hand smoke. The tobacco epidemic poses a formidable challenge to public health and development. However, with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the odds of mitigating the epidemic are no longer insurmountable, provided that all countries ratify the Convention, legislate and fully implement the treaty’s provisions and assiduously pursue effective enforcement.

Embarked tobacco taxes - lessons learnt from nine countries

Globally, and particularly in low- and middle-income countries, health budgets are under strain to meet the challenge of preventing the growing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Many countries have developed fiscal mechanisms to help finance the health sector and health programmes, including raising tobacco excise taxes and dedicating some of the revenue to a specific fund. Raising tobacco taxes high enough, through a well-designed, well-administered tax policy system, and thus raising the prices of all tobacco products, is one of the most costeffective, efficient measures for reducing tobacco use and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.