UAE: Tobacco Products to Attract 100% Tax: Official

Source from:  The Gulf Today 11/16/2015

Active lobbying, legislations and sourcing out funds are perceived as effective tools in the battle against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The Gulf Today got these observations from seven of the 206 international delegates at the landmark First NCD Alliance Forum, held at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre on Al Dhaid Road in Sharjah, that is on until Sunday.

NCDs are the chronic or life-long illnesses, namely: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory ailments and diabetes.

Among the seven individuals, who shared the aforementioned recommendations, was UAE Ministry of Health-NCD Department head Dr Buthaina Abdulla, who attended the summit with two colleagues.

She said 100 per cent tax will be imposed on all tobacco products across the emirates "in a few months."

The rest were NCD Alliance Forum chairman/International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases executive director Jose Luis Castro, World Lung Foundation-Special Projects and Communications director Rebecca Perl, Jhpiego (non-profit health organisation of the John Hopkins University)-NCD senior adviser Dr Mychelle Farmer, The Aga Khan University-Population Health Sciences-NCDs Research to Policy Unit (Kenya) representative Prof Gerald Yonga and the Cancer Association of South Africa chief executive officer Elize Joubert.

This reporter met them when all the delegates, before the summit was inaugurated by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, were asked by officials of the forum to answer and discuss in 10 minutes each, four questions pertaining to the inclusion of NCDs in the local, regional and international spheres.

The four questions were:

n What role have you played in the inclusion of the NCDs in local/regional/ global levels in the US Agenda for Sustainable Development?

n What impact do you think the inclusion of NCDs in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development will have on NCDs' prevention and control locally, regionally, globally?

n How does the NCDs' community need to adapt in terms of the approaches/tools/strategies?

n What actions will you take to translate the new global commitment into local/regional/international action for NCDs?

Abdulla mentioned the UAE's decision to tax all tobacco products, in response to the first question.

She added that the MoH has laid out its NCD Plan until 2021 wherein all measures and targets adopted by the international community for global health have been considered.

There was a spirited discussion over all the questions.

Everybody shared the opinion that NCDs, like any other health concern, must rank high among the priorities of each and every country, all private and public enterprises, particularly the food industry. It was argued that doing otherwise will result in deepened poverty or unending burgeoning and more perilous social, economic and political problems arising from an unhealthy and unproductive people.

They said maternal and childcare must not remain irrelevant, because health in general is an issue from womb to tomb.

They said women, like the men, and children, like the adults, must be educated to equip them with knowledge about taking up their physical well-being.

They agreed and laughed heartily when this reporter shared with them that in an interview with International Diabetes Federation chief executive officer Dr Petra Wilson, she pointed out that in all talks surrounding health issues, particularly when these are all brought forward in government meetings, the finance ministers or secretaries must be around for the necessary budget allocations.

They all agreed that funding is important in addressing health issues. Enditem