Modeling the Long-Term Health and Cost Impacts of Reducing Smoking Prevalence through Tobacco Taxation in Ukraine

World Bank Group

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: TOBACCO;    TOBACCO CONSUMPTION;    TOBACCO CONTROL;    TAXATION;    HEALTHCARE;   

RP-ID  :  113601

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Smoking is a leading cause ofpreventable premature deaths. Smoking’s effects willcontinue to devastate lives in many countries, includingUkraine, if measures are not implemented to reduce itsprevalence. Smoking is a major cause of many chronicdiseases, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratorydisease, and smoking-related cancers.Over recent years,successful tobacco control policies in Ukraine have resultedin one of the fastest declines in smoking prevalence in theworld (1) This is largely due to multifaceted tobaccocontrol legislation, adopted from 2005 and subsequentlyupgraded.Ukraine ratified the WHO Framework Convention onTobacco Control (FCTC) in 2006. Currently, Ukrainianlegislation basically corresponds to FCTC requirements. In2005, Ukraine adopted a first tobacco-control law. Sincethen, several additional tobacco-control policies have beenimplemented in the country. Smoke-free policies supported bymedia campaigns have covered many workplaces and publicplaces since the middle of 2006. Under these policies, atleast 50 percent of the area of restaurants and bars had tobe isolated from the smoking area, so that tobacco smoke didnot penetrate into smoke-free areas. This measure wassupported by an intensive media campaign and public movementin favor of smoke-free policies. Many restaurants wentcompletely smoke-free both before and after implementingthis measure. As of December 2012, restaurants, workplaces,and other public places became 100 percent smoke-free.Designated smoking places, which figured in the legislationbetween 2006 and 2012, were abolished in the amended laws.As of late 2006, cigarette packs carried textual warninglabels covering 30 percent of their surface, in place of aprevious warning which covered 10 percent of the frontsurface and stated: ‘Ministry of Health warns: smoking isbad for your health.’ Since October 4, 2012, large (50percent of the pack surface area), graphic health-warninglabels on tobacco packaging have been introduced. Thepresent report provides evidence from a modeling exerciseundertaken to predict the health and related cost impactsthat may stem from the implementation of a tobacco excisetax increase in Ukraine. Impacts are calculated relative tothe status quo before the tax hike, and are modeled,beginning in 2017, for 2025 and 2035.