Sectoral Brief: Finance

Sectoral Brief: Finance <
Published 22nd September 2016
Author WHO, UNDP
Download

Description

This sectoral brief is tailored specifically to ministries of finance. It expands upon the following key points regarding what this sector needs to know about NCDs:

  • Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a drag on the economy.
  • Fiscal policies can generate substantial additional revenue for the government, while improving public health.
  • Preventing NCDs makes economic sense.
  • Price and tax measures are very effective at getting people to quit tobacco use and reduce consumption of alcohol as well as unhealthy foods and beverages.
  • Price and tax measures can be used to actively encourage healthier behaviours and consumption of healthier products.
  • Industry interference is a major challenge: ministries of finance, tax and revenue must be alert to the myths spread by industry.
  • Ministries of finance, tax and revenue need to collect robust data to see the impacts of tax and price policies.