Sharp increase in tobacco tax - Breakthrough solution in the 'battle' to protect public health

In order to promote the implementation of Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on banning the production, trading, import, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products and implementing effective policies in tobacco harm prevention and control activities, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund ( Ministry of Health ) organized a workshop to share information on tobacco harm prevention and control activities this morning, May 8, at La Thanh Hotel, Hanoi.

Attending the workshop were Ms. Phan Thi Hai - Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, chairing the workshop; Dr. Nguyen Minh Hang - Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health ; Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh - Director of the Center for Policy and Development Research (DEPOCEN); Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Professional Department, Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund; along with representatives of health organizations, many agencies, units and press and television agencies.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ms. Phan Thi Hai - Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, emphasized that on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly officially passed Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly. This is an important milestone demonstrating the State's strong determination to protect public health.

According to the Resolution, from 2025, the National Assembly agreed to completely ban the production, trading, import, transportation, storage and use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other gases and addictive substances that are harmful to human health.

In addition, communication work to raise awareness among people - especially young people - about the harmful effects of alcohol, beer, tobacco and addictive substances will continue to be promoted.

“This is a big step forward in public health policy, highly appreciated by international and regional friends,” said Dr. Phan Thi Hai.

“In the coming time, the National Assembly will conduct more in-depth discussions on tax policies, especially for products harmful to health such as cigarettes, alcohol, beer, etc. Today's workshop is an important opportunity for us to share information, analyze practices and propose tax policy solutions, including increasing tobacco taxes - one of the effective tools to reduce the rate of use of harmful products in the community", said Ms. Phan Thi Hai.

At the workshop, Ms. Phan Thi Hai also presented a paper on "Increasing tobacco tax - An effective solution to reduce tobacco use". The paper clearly stated the content of What role does tax policy play in preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco?; Lessons learned from other countries on increasing tobacco tax; Why is it necessary to increase tobacco tax in Vietnam? Current status of tobacco tax and price in Vietnam; Which tax increase plan can help achieve Vietnam's national goal by 2030 on reducing smoking rate?.

MSc. Phan Thi Hai - Deputy Director of the Fund for Prevention of Tobacco Harms presented a paper at the workshop.

Participating in the presentation with the topic: "Tobacco Tax - Impact and Evidence", Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh - Director of the Center for Development and Policy Research (DEPOCEN) also clearly stated the contents of whether tax increase will affect production, budget, or economy? Will tax increase increase cigarette smuggling? Should the roadmap for increasing tobacco tax be extended? And the answer to the above questions is "No".

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh - Director of the Development and Policy Research Center (DEPOCEN) presented a paper at the workshop.

Sharing about communication work at the workshop, MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Professional Department, Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms said: “When developing a communication plan to promote tobacco tax increases, we had many concerns. Finally, we chose the name 'Communication campaign to promote tax increases' - a clear and focused approach. However, the important thing is to advocate for the tax rate to be adjusted in a strong direction, creating a breakthrough impact. In fact, tobacco tax has been adjusted before, but if it is only increased modestly, it will be difficult to achieve the expected effect in terms of public health.”

MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong added: “Regarding the implementation of Resolution 173/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly, in the past time, we have made many efforts in communication work to the community. However, according to my observation, after the ban resolution, the behavior of using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products tends to shift from public to more secretive and discreet. Even on social networking platforms, there are still many groups buying, selling and exchanging these products.

Therefore, one of the major challenges today is how to make communication work truly reach people – especially young people – to help them understand correctly and fully the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products; at the same time, strictly comply with not buying, selling, or using prohibited products. This is not an easy problem, requiring perseverance and creativity in the coming time.”

MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of Professional Department, Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund shared about communication work at the workshop

Sharing more about the communication work in the coming time, MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong said that the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund is developing a communication plan towards 2026. The plan will include specific goals, clearly identifying the target groups to be impacted, selecting appropriate communication channels as well as implementing practical activities to increase the effectiveness of propaganda and policy advocacy.

Viet Hoang

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/tang-manh-thue-thuoc-la-giai-phap-dot-pha-trong-cuoc-chien-bao-ve-suc-khoe-cong-dong-post547748.html