ETHIOPIA—The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO-Ethiopia), recently convened a significant policy dialogue workshop.
The event aimed to address the fiscal measures required to mitigate the impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and brought together an array of key stakeholders.
Notable participants included members of the House of People Representatives (HOPR), high-ranking government officials, directors from various ministries, and representatives from civil societies and partner organizations.
The workshop had a comprehensive agenda, with the primary objective of raising awareness among stakeholders about the benefits of fiscal measures in combating NCDs and their associated risk factors.
Additionally, it sought to generate recommendations on effective health tax measures that could contribute to the reduction of NCDs and their impact.
The discussions encompassed a range of topics, including the assessment of the 2020 fiscal measures’ effects on the price and consumption of unhealthy products, sharing best practices from other African countries, and exploring the role of health taxes in NCD prevention.
Participants at the policy dialogue acknowledged the urgent need for action to address the growing health and economic burden posed by NCDs.
They emphasized the potential of health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages as cost-effective interventions to curb the consumption of unhealthy products, which are significant risk factors for NCDs.
Health taxes were identified as immediate accelerators for NCD prevention and financing interventions that promote healthier lifestyles.
Dr. Lia Tadesse, the Ethiopian Minister of Health, expressed concern over the escalating prevalence of NCDs in the country, which are responsible for 52% of mortality.
Highlighting the global impact of NCDs, Dr. Tadesse underscored the importance of addressing this issue promptly to avoid adverse consequences on the national economy and undermine the progress achieved in the health sector.
The main NCDs identified globally, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, pose a significant threat to public health.
The rise in NCDs in Ethiopia can be attributed to the consumption of unhealthy products, lifestyle changes, and the increasing prevalence of risk factors, particularly among the younger population.
The World Health Organization (WHO-Ethiopia) Country representative, Dr. Nonhlanhla Dlamini, emphasized the role of excise taxes in reducing the consumption of unhealthy products and mitigating their negative public health impact.
Dr. Dlamini highlighted that successful implementation of these measures would not only contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature deaths from NCD risk factors but also generate additional excise tax revenue and enhance economic productivity across sectors.
Citing the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) study, which emphasizes the interconnections between NCDs and other SDG goals, participants recognized the importance of achieving SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs.
The study also highlighted the financial strain experienced by individuals due to NCD management, leading to increased poverty rates, decreased productivity, and work absenteeism.
Dr. Kairedin Tezera, Deputy Chair of the Health, Social Development, Culture, and Sports Standing Committee with the House of Representatives (HOPR), reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders in managing NCDs.
Dr. Tezera emphasized the importance of enacting and enforcing legislation against unhealthy goods and implementing policies that promote behavioral changes to effectively combat NCDs.
Stakeholders acknowledged the need for ongoing deliberations and statutory provisions to generate policy recommendations and drive the desired changes in regulations and behaviors related to NCD prevention.
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