Why in the News?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched the “3 by 35” initiative, urging countries to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 to fight rising chronic diseases.

About the ‘3 by 35’ Initiative:

• Launch and Objective: The ‘3 by 35’ initiative was launched by WHO in 2024 urging countries to raise real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 through health taxes.
• Public Health Goal: The primary aim is to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, which currently cause over 75% of global deaths.
• Impact Projection: According to WHO estimates, a 50% price increase in harmful products could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years.
• Revenue Mobilization Target: The initiative aims to help countries generate $1 trillion in public revenue over the next decade to strengthen national health systems and fund universal health coverage (UHC).
• Global Technical Support: A global alliance of experts and institutions backs the initiative by offering policy advice, real-world case studies, and implementation support.

Key Features:

• Focus on Health Taxes: Promotes the use of excise taxes to increase the prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages, discouraging harmful consumption and improving population-level health.
• Evidence-Based Tools: Provides technical guidance, economic models, and case studies to support country-specific reforms in taxation policy.
• Alignment with UHC: Positions health taxes as sustainable revenue sources for public health financing, especially targeting low- and middle-income countries.
• Equity-Oriented Design: Targets products disproportionately consumed by vulnerable groups, making the initiative also a tool for social equity and justice.

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