Philippine taxes on sugary drinks could avert thousands of deaths by diabetes, stroke and heart failure, World Health Organisation says
- Nearly 6,000 deaths related to diabetes, 8,000 from stroke and more than 10,000 from heart diseases are expected to be avoided over the next 20 years
The Philippines could avert 24,000 premature deaths linked to diseases such as diabetes, stroke and heart failure in the next two decades after it adopted taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.
The taxes levied this year could cut consumption and avoid nearly 6,000 deaths related to diabetes, 8,000 from stroke and more than 10,000 from heart diseases over 20 years, a WHO research study showed.
“The new sugar-sweetened beverage tax may help reduce obesity-related premature deaths and improve financial well-being in the Philippines,” the researchers said.
The taxes, part of a series of reforms aimed at helping to fund infrastructure, could yield health care savings of about US$627 million and annual revenue of US$813 million, they added.
The high consumption of colas was the main driver of obesity, swelling the burden of non-communicable diseases, the WHO said.
