| Summary: | Background and challenges to implementation
Notwithstanding
multiple achievements in tobacco control (FCTC ratification, law
enactment-2005, formation of National, District and Upazila Task Force, increasing
tobacco tax regularly, law amendment-2013 and implementation of GHW), Bangladesh has been facing a challenge of
sustainable funding on tobacco control. Actually tobacco control activities are
managed with the help of WHO and with the help of BI which is really inadequate.
Intervention or response
Representatives
of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance visited Health Promotion Foundation, Thailand.
With gained experience they conducted advocacy with policy makers, electronic
and print media, executives of the government and political leaders for
imposition of 2% surcharges on all tobacco products. Moreover, various
activities have been adopted for creating public opinion. At one point, in the
faces of challenges from tobacco companies, the activists have been able to
convince the government that surcharges should be imposed from the harmful
product for long-term tobacco control. Taxes, VAT and surcharges will increase
if the price of cigarettes increases but revenue will not decrease. In order to
protect public health and create sustainable funding for Tobacco Control to
achieve SDG target, this policy provides policy-compliance with the provision
of HDS.
Results and lessons learnt
Given
priority to public health, Government has imposed 1% HDS on all tobacco products
in 2013-14 fiscal year. Presently
the fund has risen up to 6 billion taka which will increase gradually every
year. The
implementation of a policy on HDS management is in the final stage. At present, financial
crisis of NTCC has been removed. As a result, sustainable fund has been
formed in Tobacco Control through which SDG-3 will be implemented.
Conclusions and key recommendations
1%
surcharge will accelerate implementation of SDG targets as a sustainable fund
for public health development and management of tobacco control activities.
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