DOH pushes 'sin' tax reform bill
The Department of Health is throwing its full support behind a bill seeking to jack up prices of alcohol and tobacco products to discourage consumers from buying them.
DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said House Bill 5727, which seeks to increase taxes for such products, will have a deterrent effect on consumers.
"Raising taxes and the prices of the so-called sin products will deter smokers to indulge in this addictive habit which put them risk from suffering non-communicable diseases," he said in a news release posted on the Official Gazette website. http://www.gov.ph/2012/02/24/doh-pushes-for-the-passage-of-sin-tax-reform-bill/
He likewise voiced support for the measure's provision where the revenues will finance the universal health coverage program dubbed "Kalusugan Pangkalahatan."
Ona estimated some P400 billion could be attributed to smoking-related expenditures from treatment, chronic care, loss of income every year.
“It is just proper that a bulk of the revenue be channeled to health care because it is the health sector which bears the brunt of harmful effects of sin products such as tobacco and alcohol,” he said.
Ona said the passage of this legislation will have a bigger impact in its war against the adverse effects of smoking.
The DOH has held an extensive campaign against smoking, with one primary strategy being to educate the public against its harmful effects.
“We urge the legislators to pass the sin tax reform bill which will certainly help us achieve our goal of universal health care,” he said.
Smoking also poor man's habit
Ona cited a study showing smoking is more prevalent among the poorest segment of the population not only in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia.
Because of this, he said the poor suffer more because of their difficulty availing health care when the ill effects of smoking kicks in.
Tobacco smoking is among the risk factors of non-communicable disease (NCD), which also includes poor diet, and lack of exercise.
NCDs are the leading cause of deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the Philippines, about 200,000 Filipinos die annually because of NCDs, which are traditionally viewed as the diseases affecting the elderly.
But the DOH noted studies showing NCDs are now affecting even the productive age group from 15 to 59 years old. Sixty percent of the disability causes in this age group are NCDs. — LBG, GMA News
DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said House Bill 5727, which seeks to increase taxes for such products, will have a deterrent effect on consumers.
"Raising taxes and the prices of the so-called sin products will deter smokers to indulge in this addictive habit which put them risk from suffering non-communicable diseases," he said in a news release posted on the Official Gazette website. http://www.gov.ph/2012/02/24/doh-pushes-for-the-passage-of-sin-tax-reform-bill/
He likewise voiced support for the measure's provision where the revenues will finance the universal health coverage program dubbed "Kalusugan Pangkalahatan."
Ona estimated some P400 billion could be attributed to smoking-related expenditures from treatment, chronic care, loss of income every year.
“It is just proper that a bulk of the revenue be channeled to health care because it is the health sector which bears the brunt of harmful effects of sin products such as tobacco and alcohol,” he said.
Ona said the passage of this legislation will have a bigger impact in its war against the adverse effects of smoking.
The DOH has held an extensive campaign against smoking, with one primary strategy being to educate the public against its harmful effects.
“We urge the legislators to pass the sin tax reform bill which will certainly help us achieve our goal of universal health care,” he said.
Smoking also poor man's habit
Ona cited a study showing smoking is more prevalent among the poorest segment of the population not only in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia.
Because of this, he said the poor suffer more because of their difficulty availing health care when the ill effects of smoking kicks in.
Tobacco smoking is among the risk factors of non-communicable disease (NCD), which also includes poor diet, and lack of exercise.
NCDs are the leading cause of deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the Philippines, about 200,000 Filipinos die annually because of NCDs, which are traditionally viewed as the diseases affecting the elderly.
But the DOH noted studies showing NCDs are now affecting even the productive age group from 15 to 59 years old. Sixty percent of the disability causes in this age group are NCDs. — LBG, GMA News
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