G20 Foundation Publications Turkey 2015 | Page 101

NCD-related targets included in the SDGs. For
national NCD responses to be implemented and
sustained, any new financing will rely primarily
on domestic public resources. Reducing NCD
deaths is not expensive: Banning all forms of
tobacco advertising, replacing trans fats with
polyunsaturated fats, restricting or banning
alcohol advertising, preventing heart attacks and
strokes, promoting breast-feeding, implementing
public awareness programs on diet and physical
activity, and preventing cervical cancer through
screening are all low-cost and effective public
health measures within the reach of most
governments.
However, it is equally important that wealthy
nations provide more and higher-quality
resources to the most in-need countries to
complement domestic resources for NCDs.
NCDs continue to receive the smallest amount
of official development assistance among all
major global health areas, accounting for 1% of
official development assistance (ODA).
Partnerships needed to fight NCDs
The WHO report also highlights the need for a
broader range of investors, including the private
sector, which must become a key player in the
“Achieving any
SDG requires
sustainable domestic
and international
financing.”
NCDs fight. Contributions from philanthropists
will continue to play an increasingly important
role. Also, closer and more effective
engagement with civil society is vital if we are to
turn the tide against NCDs.
The report also highlights opportunities to align
government policies in sectors like finance,
investment, trade and development to, in turn,
support government health policies striving to
curb the NCDs epidemic.
Tobacco tax revenues were also identified in
Addis as an important source of new sustainable
funding for health. Governments already collect
over $270 billion in tobacco excise tax revenues
each year, according to the report. To date,
at least 30 countries are earmarking tobacco
tax revenues for health purposes. Thailand, for
instance, has used revenues generated from
a 2 percent surtax on tobacco and alcohol to
fund the ThaiHealth Foundation, which supports
health promotion activities.
If the world wants to live up to its promise that
no country or person will be left behind, the
international development community needs
to support domestic efforts in the poorest
countries to achieve the NCD-related SDG
targets. This will require harnessing ODA to
develop institutional capacity for NCDs. Donors
must improve their efforts to raise public and
private finances.
The call for increased investment in NCDs is
growing louder, from rural hospital doctors to
the 12 first ladies in Africa who are calling for
more financing to fight cancer on the continent.
These voices can no longer remain unanswered.
They must be acted on, as people
all over the world seek protection
against NCDs. We must build a
future that ensures that globalization
becomes a positive force for all
current and future generations.