WHO backs ThaiHealth funding and tobacco and alcohol tax safeguards

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Thailand to secure stable funding for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and maintain the overall tax burden on tobacco and alcohol as the government considers changes to the foundation’s financing, according to a letter dated October 14, addressed to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the need for long-term investment in health promotion and disease prevention, while protecting the public health benefits of tobacco and alcohol taxation.

The letter comes as the government considers future funding arrangements for ThaiHealth, an organisation recognised internationally for supporting preventive healthcare.

WHO calls for sustainable ThaiHealth funding

In his letter, Tedros acknowledged Thailand’s longstanding contribution to public health, particularly its efforts to address the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption.

He highlighted the country’s leadership in health promotion and disease prevention at both regional and international levels.

“ThaiHealth is internationally recognised as an innovative model for sustained investment in health promotion and disease prevention,” Tedros wrote.

The WHO director-general also referred to ThaiHealth’s receipt of the 2021 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion, which recognised the foundation’s contribution to improving public health.

As Thailand considers its future funding arrangements, Tedros emphasised the importance of maintaining “adequate, sustainable, and predictable financing” for health promotion and disease prevention, including ThaiHealth’s work.

He noted that experience in Thailand and other countries had demonstrated the substantial benefits of well-designed investment in disease prevention.

Such investment, according to the WHO, can deliver improvements in public health while generating wider social and economic benefits.

WHO calls for protection of tobacco and alcohol tax benefits

A central concern raised in the letter was the potential impact of changes to financing arrangements on Thailand’s health taxation policies.

Tedros recommended that any adjustments should continue to protect the public health benefits of tobacco and alcohol taxation, including through maintaining the overall tax burden on these products.

He emphasised that taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages serve purposes beyond generating government revenue.

According to the WHO, these measures also help discourage consumption and reduce the associated health risks, making them important instruments for protecting public health.

The organisation therefore considers it essential that future funding decisions preserve the effectiveness of tobacco and alcohol taxation as a disease prevention tool.

WHO links Thai tax policy to 3 by 35 Initiative

The recommendations also reflect the WHO’s international efforts to strengthen health taxation through the 3 by 35 Initiative.

The initiative supports countries in using taxation to increase the real prices of products associated with health risks, particularly tobacco, alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks, by 2035.

The WHO emphasises that tax policies should be adapted to the economic conditions and circumstances of individual countries.

In Thailand’s case, Tedros highlighted the importance of preserving the public health benefits of existing tax measures while the government determines the most appropriate long-term financing arrangements.

WHO offers technical support for Thailand’s funding review

In concluding his letter, Tedros expressed confidence that the Thai government would continue to prioritise sustained investment in disease prevention and maintain the health benefits generated by effective taxation.

He also confirmed the WHO’s readiness to assist Thailand in considering future financing arrangements.

The organisation offered to provide supporting evidence, technical advice and relevant international experience to inform the government’s decisions.

The October 14 letter was copied to Thailand’s foreign affairs and public health ministers and their ministries, as well as the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva.